ELON, N.C. - Senior Maureen Hepner drew a two-out, bases loaded walk in the top of the seventh inning, allowing teammate Holiday Cahill to score the eventual game-winning run as the Towson University softball team improved to 14-9 this season with an 8-7 come-from-behind victory over host Elon.

The Tigers got homeruns from Courtney Johnson and Cahill in the win, pounding out 16 hits and gaining an early advantage over the Phoenix.

An RBI double by Missy McCormick in the top of the first inning gave the Tigers the game's first run, and Johnson followed with her second homer in as many days, blasting a three-run shot to leftfield later in the frame to give the Tigers a 4-0 lead after the first.

Towson took a 6-0 lead on Cahill's first career homer and another RBI base hit from McCormick in the second inning.

But the Phoenix mounted a furious rally in the bottom of the second, scoring seven runs and taking the one-run lead. The biggest momentum swing in the inning came when Carleigh Nester hit a grand-slam to cap the scoring.

The game remained 7-6 in favor of Elon until the seventh, when Delanie Dunham scored the tying run as Olivia Yarbrough reached on an error. Hepner's walk later in the inning put the Tigers in front for good.

Hailey Balk went four-for-five at the plate for Towson, while Cahill had three hits and two runs scored.

Johnson and McCormick combined for five RBIs.

The Tigers return home on Saturday, hosting the first day of the Tiger Clash beginning at 10 a.m. Towson opens the day by facing Quinnipiac. Quinnipiac will then face Wagner at noon, followed by Towson and Wagner closing out the day at 2 p.m. 

The tournament schedule will be the same on both Saturday and Sunday.