MT. PLEASANT, S.C. – The Elon University baseball team was unable to climb out of an early five-run deficit as the Phoenix dropped a 5-3 decision at College of Charleston on Saturday afternoon at Patriots Point.

Kyle Jackson recorded the lone multi-hit performance for Elon (19-24, 9-8 CAA) as he went 2-for-4 with a run and one RBI. 

For the Cougars (22-21, 12-5 CAA), Bradley Dixon had two hits and scored once, while Xavier Freeman drove in two with a 1-for-2 day.

Kyle Brnovich (5-3) suffered his first defeat in conference play. The freshman allowed five runs on six hits while striking out six in 7.0 innings.

Nathan Ocker (2-1) picked up the win after tossing 4.1 innings of relief. He gave up one run on one hit and struck out five.

How It Happened: For the second day in a row, Charleston got on the board first. The Cougars loaded the bases with one out with a bunt single and two walks before an Ari Sechopoulos sacrifice fly scored the first run and left runners on the corners. CofC then made it 2-0 by pulling off a double steal. 

A pair of homers, a solo shot from Logan McRae in the third and a two-run blast from Freeman in the fourth, pushed Charleston's lead to 5-0.

Elon was able to get on the board in the fifth. Ryne Ogren reached on a one-out double and scored on Jackson's single up the middle. After a Ty Adcock single put runners on the corners, Will Nance hit a deep fly ball to right-center for a sac fly that plated Jackson to make it 5-2.

Cam Devanney pulled the Phoenix within two runs, 5-3, by lining a 2-2 pitch with two outs over the left field fence in the top of the eighth.

Notes: Brnovich retired the final 12 hitters he faced and the Phoenix set down 14 hitters in a row during one stretch.

On Deck: The two sides will wrap up the series at 1 p.m. on Sunday.