Box Score

ELON, N.C. -- Making his first career start in his 91st career appearance, Elon's Thomas Girdwood tossed five one-hit, scoreless innings as the Phoenix defeated visiting Saint Joseph's 11-2 from Latham Park on Wednesday afternoon.

Elon's first at bat began with Jake Luce reaching on an infield single.  After a balk and stolen base moved Luce to third, Alex Swim looped a one-out single into left-center that plated the game's first run.

With one down in the bottom of the second, Harry Austin was plunked to reach first.  A sac bunt moved Austin to second before a Niko Fraser line drive single to left scored him to make it a 2-0 game.

Back-to-back two-out walks to Seth Canipe and Sebastian Gomez got things going for Elon in the third inning.  After a passed ball put the Phoenix runners on second and third, Matt Kirchner grounded a single up the middle to score the third and fourth Elon runs of the afternoon.  Another walk to Harry Austin put two aboard for Luce.  Luce popped a ball up that was dropped by the Hawks' shortstop, allowing Kirchner to come in to give the Phoenix a 5-0 lead.

The Phoenix kept its offensive attack up in the fourth inning.  Fraser led off with a single to center, stole second and then scored on Swim's single up the middle.

In the sixth, Elon added another to its total when a balk scored Neal Pritchard from third.

The Hawks broke through with two in the seventh when Brett Tiagwad tripled to the gap in right-center to score both Joe Cook and Quinn Renner.

Elon loaded the bases in the eighth on an infield single, a walk and a hit batter when, with one out, Canipe lined a single to center to score two runs as the Phoenix stretched its lead to 9-2.  Another walk reloaded the bags for Kirchner who singled home two more with a liner to left.

Girdwood (2-1) picked up the victory in his first career start.  He struck out three hitters.  Five Phoenix pitchers combined to allow just three hits on the day.  It marked the first time that Elon held an opponent to three hits or fewer since allowing three hits to NC State on February 25, 2009.

Saint Joseph's Taylor Mahoney (0-2) was charged with the loss after he surrendered two runs on three hits in two frames.  The Hawks used seven pitchers on the day.

Kirchner finished 2-for-5 with a run and career-high four RBI while both Swim and Canipe drove home two runs for the Phoenix.  Fraser led Elon with three hits.  He also scored twice.

Elon will hit the road to begin Southern Conference play this weekend, paying a visit to Appalachian State.  Friday's first game is slated for a 3 p.m. start.