HARRISONBURG, Va. – Elon University baseball could not overcome an eight-run deficit as the Phoenix (30-23) dropped its first game of the 2019 CAA Championship 8-3 to UNCW Thursday afternoon, May 23 at Veterans Memorial Park.

George Kirby fell to 8-2 after giving up eight runs on 11 hits. The junior did not issue a walk and struck out a pair of Seahawks (30-28) through 5.2 innings. Dean McCarthy, Kyle Greenler, Kellan Elsbury, and Joe Sprake all came out of the pen.

Joe Satterfield provided the spark for the maroon and gold late in the game. The Greenville, S.C. native batted 2-for-4 with a two-run blast, a double, two RBIs, and a run scored. Anthony Galason and Matt Oldham both went 2-for-4 with a double. Ty Adcock also collected a two-bagger and turned in a 1-for-4 effort, while Spurlin finished 1-for-4 for the team's other hit.

How It Happened: Elon had an opportunity to strike early in the home half of the first as Oldham singled to shortstop and took second on a throwing error by UNCW's Greg Jones, named the CAA Player of the Year on Tuesday. The sophomore from Pittsboro, N.C. then moved up to third on a Satterfield ground out, but was left stranded as Seahawk starter Landen Roupp got Devanney to chase a pitch. In the next half inning, UNCW placed a runner on third with a Noah Bridges hit up the middle, a sacrifice bunt, and a ground out. However, Bridges was left stranded as Devanney fielded a grounder and fired to first in time.

UNCW opened the scoring in the top of the fourth. A leadoff single to first, a bunt down the first-base line, and a sac bunt moved the runners up to second and third. Devanney then fielded a grounder for out number two, but a run came home on the play. A hit batter and a stolen base again moved a pair of Seahawks into scoring position, and a hit back up the middle plated both runners for the 3-0 advantage. Elon looked to strike back as Devanney drew a one-out walk and Adcock benefited from a Texas Leaguer that resulted in a double. UNCW was able to retire the next two batters, though.

The Seahawks extended their lead with a five-run top of the sixth. A leadoff triple and a double gave the teal, gold, and navy a 4-0 lead. After a single and a bunt loaded the bases, Elon retired a pair on a foul out and a fly out to right. Unfortunately, a second UNCW triple and a balk gave the Seahawks an 8-0 cushion. In the bottom of the sixth, Satterfield laced a one-out double to the gap in right and moved up on a passed ball, but was again stranded as Devanney popped up to short and Adock went down swinging.

Elon's offense started to click in the eighth as Galason legged out a one-out double to right. Oldham followed with another double to right to manufacture one run, and Satterfield added a two-run jack to the right of the batter's eye. UNCW ran the bases full with two outs in the top of the ninth, but Sprake got the batter to chase a 2-2 pitch to keep it a five-run ball game. The Phoenix couldn't do anything with their final three outs, though, as the Seahawks retired the side in order.

Notes: Satterfield's long ball was his fourth of the season. He also posted his 19th multi-hit game and seventh multi-RBI game...Devanney's hit streak ends at 20 games. However, he did draw a walk in the fourth to extend his reached base streak to 26 games...Today's game marked the team's first in 11 days. It marked Elon's longest layoff in its Division I era...This was the fifth time this season the maroon and gold have collected four doubles. Elon's season high is six in the second game of a home-and-home series with Wake Forest...Elon is now 2-3 when opening the CAA tournament. The Phoenix have made it the conference championship in all five seasons as a member of the CAA.

On Deck: Elon will play again tomorrow at 3 p.m., where the Phoenix will await the winner of an 11 a.m. game between No. 4 Northeastern and the loser of tonight's Game Five contest between No. 2 Charleston and No. 3 William & Mary.