ELON, N.C. – Dean McCarthy pitched six shutout innings and Elon University baseball completed the series sweep of Delaware State with an 8-0 victory Sunday, Feb. 16 at Latham Park.

The senior left-hander held the Hornets (0-3) to just one hit and did not issue a walk. He retired 11 batters in a row and added seven punch outs to his totals. Sean O'Connell took over and allowed one hit with a pair of strikeouts in 2.0 innings of relief. Adam Spurlin took the mound in the ninth inning, giving up two hits and a walk. He got one DSU batter swinging.

At the plate, Nick Cicci hit 2-for-3 with a double, a run, and two RBIs. Anthony Galason had his second multi-hit outing of the weekend as he finished 2-for-4. Alex Iadisernia batted 2-for-5, scored a run, and drove in another. Matt Oldham also had an impact swing as he tripled and went 1-for-3 with a run, three RBIs, and two bases on balls.

How It Happened: The Phoenix (3-0) looked to end the 0-0 battle in the home half of the fourth as Garrett Stonehouse reached on a fielder's choice, advanced to second on a passed ball, and took third on a fly out to center. With two away, though, DSU starting pitcher Dylan Byler was able to get Oldham to fly out to right center

The maroon and gold were finally able to convert in the sixth. Iadisernia took the first pitch he saw back up the middle and Joe Satterfield followed with a hit that landed fair in the left corner. After Stonehouse executed a sacrifice bunt, the guests elected to intentionally walk J.P. Sponseller. Cicci made them regret their decision as he smacked a 2-0 offering down the left-field line to plate two. Following a call to the bullpen, Oldham greeted reliever Hiram Davis with a triple to the gap in right as the Phoenix doubled its lead, 4-0. Spurlin then walked and stole second before a Tyler Cranston sac fly to right brought in Oldham. Spurlin advanced on the play and then made it a 6-0 advantage thanks to a wild pitch. The damage wasn't done though as Tyler Stanley pinch ran for Galason, stole second, benefited from a balk, and scored on an Iadisernia single up the middle.

Elon added one more run in the eighth. With nowhere to put Oldham, Hornets reliever Jose Mencia walked him on a full count.

Notes: Elon improves to 10-2 in the all-time series...Head coach Mike Kennedy now has 750 career wins, all of them at Elon...The Phoenix scored 31 runs this weekend. It marks the most on opening week since the 2015 season when the team scored 34 in a sweep of Penn State...This is the second year in a row Elon has opened with a series sweep. The 2019 team defeated Lafayette 9-1, 8-0, and 5-1...Today's game marked the collegiate debut for O'Connell.

On Deck: The team has its first midweek game of the season this Tuesday, Feb. 18 in Chapel Hill, N.C. First pitch against the No. 13 Tar Heels is scheduled for 3 p.m.