The Elon Phoenix softball team could only gain one win over a disappointing weekend against conference foes Radford and Gardner-Webb.

The team traveled to Radford University on Thursday in hopes of securing some much needed conference victories, but the Highlanders had other plans in mind.

The Highlanders took both games from the Phoenix with a 6-2 performance in game one, and came from behind 6-5 finish in game two.

In game one, the Phoenix struck first when Jenny Gustin hit a double to score teammates Jennifer Newsome and Jessica Swearengin. That was the only offense the Phoenix could muster against Highlander pitcher Deana Benner, who struck out nine and allowed seven hits.

The Highlanders answered back to the Phoenix, scoring two runs in the bottom of the third to tie the game, then grabbing the lead for good off of Katie Lemmert’s two run homer in the fourth. The Highlanders would added two more runs in the fifth to secure the 6-2 victory.

In game two of the series, the Highlanders started right where they left off by scoring four runs in the first inning, but the Phoenix wouldn’t go quietly.

In the fourth Lori Notaro singled to score teammate Suzanne Speed, and then in the fifth the Phoenix tacked on another run to cut the lead to 4-2.

With the game on the line in the bottom of the seventh, the Phoenix mounted a two-out rally to put the game in extra innings. Hits by Megan Borgaard, Swearengin and Gustin would even the game at four runs a piece.

After a quiet eighth inning, the Phoenix scored in the ninth to take a lead 5-4. But the Highlanders weren’t ready to let the game go and mounted a rally of their own in the bottom of the ninth, scoring two runs and taking the win.

The road trip continued for the Phoenix on Saturday at Gardner-Webb University.

Game one featured a pitching duel between the Phoenix’s Whitney Meeks and Julie White of Garner-Webb.

Garner-Webb would come out of the battle with a 1-0 victory after scoring in the bottom of the seventh to avoid extra innings. Whitney Meeks pitched a solid game allowing only four hits and one unearned run, but it was White who picked up the victory with the shut out.

Game two of the match up was a bright spot for the Phoenix after two close loses. The Phoenix bats caught fire, and the team stormed out to a 7-0 lead in the sixth.

The Phoenix were led by Danielle Concepcion (3 for 4), Jennifer Newsome (2 for 4) and Jessica Swearengin (2 for 4). Together the offense gathered 12 hits while pitcher Jennifer Lamb held Gardner-Webb to only five hits to grab the win.

The Phoenix should quickly bounce back with only a few match-ups left on the schedule.

The weekend could have been different for the Phoenix (16-21-1). If the two close games had been won, the Phoenix would have returned home with three out of four wins.

Yet this is a team that will not dwell on the past and won’t let the disappointment of the weekend get them down.