Box Score CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Ryan Kinsella matched a career high with five RBI as the Elon Phoenix out-foxed The Citadel for an 8-5 Southern Conference victory in game one of a three-game set on Friday night at Riley Park.

Trailing 5-2 entering the eighth inning, Elon's bats came alive.  Blaine Bower was plunked to start the inning and moved to second when his twin brother Quinn Bower reached on an error.  Sebastian Gomez singled through the right side to drive home Blaine Bower.  On the play, the throw home went to the backstop and Quinn Bower raced home to tie the game at five as Gomez headed to second.  An Alex Swim single put runners on the corners before Kinsella connected for his 10th home run of the season as he drove a 1-1 pitch over the wall in right to put the Phoenix on top 7-5.  Antonio Alvarez kept the rally going with a single that bounced off of the bag at first.  He then went to second on a Wil Leathers single and, after a balk, scored on a Casey Jones ground out.

Elon (19-12, 11-5 SoCon) was the first to strike in the contest, scoring once in the first when a Kinsella fielder's choice plated Quinn Bower who had led off the game with a single to center.

The Citadel (16-15, 5-5) tied the game in the last of the second as Bo Thompson homered to left.

The game remained even at one until the sixth when Gomez led off the inning with a walk and headed to second on a wild pitch and to third on a ground out.  He then came in on a Kinsella ground out.

The Bulldogs rallied to take the lead thanks to a four-run seventh.  Thompson led that at bat off with a single just out of reach of a diving Alvarez at short.  Tyler Griffin followed with a single to center before a sacrifice bunt put runners on second and third.  Johnathan Stokes then put tied the game at two with a single up the middle.  A sacrifice fly put The Citadel ahead 3-2 before a Hughston Armstrong single put two aboard for Mason Davis who lined a 3-2 pitch to the wall in left-center to drive in two and set up Elon's eighth inning heroics.

Dylan Clark (4-2) picked up the win for Elon after allowing five runs on nine hits in seven innings.  He walked just one and struck out three.  Andrew MacDonald tossed the final two scoreless innings and fanned two to claim his second save of the season.

The loss went to Bulldog reliever Zach Sherrill (1-1).  Sherrill failed to record an out and was charged with four runs (three earned) on two hits.  Starter Austin Pritcher allowed two runs on three hits in seven innings of work.

At the plate for Elon, Gomez' 4-for-4 night equalled his best hit output of his career.

Game two of this three-game league series is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday.