ELON, N.C. - The Saint Joseph's softball team split the first two games of the 2014 season, topping Niagara 7-3 before falling to host Elon, 2-1, Saturday afternoon at the Phoenix Opening Tournament.

Versus the Purple Eagles, the Hawks jumped out to a 7-0 lead, scoring two runs in the third and fourth innings, and adding three more in the fifth.

A two-run home run to left center in the top of the second off the bat of junior Nicole Palase scored rookie Isabella Picard to give the Hawks the lead firt.

In the fourth, senior Maria Ficca scored from third on a double steal as Picard went from first to second. A batter later, Palase would pick up her second RBI of the game with a single that scored Picard.

Sophomore Sarah Yoos led off the fifth with a single and classmate Brandi Harkness would bring her home in the next at-bat with a home run to left field to make it 6-0.

Saint Joseph's would load the bases and score their seventh run on a sacrifice fly by Picard that scored pinch runner Traneya White, but would be halted from adding on more.

The Purple Eagles rallied with three runs in the bottom of the fifth as they chased SJU pitcher Liz Mendez as the first four batters reached, despite her stellar start. Niagara would add on two more runs, but sophomore Anna Lauterbach would finish off the opposition holding them hitless over the final two innings.

Mendez picked up the win, allowing three runs while striking out one. Lauterbach struck out three over three innings of work.

"In the first game, the offense started off strong. Nicole Palase had a big day for us at the plate and we got a big home run from Brandi Harkness gave us the big lead we needed," said head coach Terri Adams. "Our defense played well behind our pitchers and we got performances from both Liz Mendez in the start and Anna Lauterbach in relief."

Against host Elon in game two, the Hawks fell behind 1-0 in the second inning on a wild pitch by SJU rookie Emily Rogers.

Rogers bounced back to hold Elon to just 2 hits over the next 3.2 innings, allowing her teammates to tie the score at 1-1 in the fifth as Yoos was hit with the bases loaded, scoring junior Melissa Ruf from third.

Elon would score the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh though to hand SJU its first loss of the new year.

"The defense played strong to keep Elon off the bases for the most part," said Adams. "Unfortunately, we stranded too many runners on base. But it was a good start and this team will continue to grow and learn from these nonconference games."

Ficca and Harkness each collected three hits on the day, with Palase going 4-for-5 with three RBIs and a run scored.

The Hawks will cap play Sunday against Niagara (9 a.m.) and Iona (11:15 a.m.).