ELON, N.C. – Indiana State broke open a pitchers' duel with runs in the fifth and sixth innings and Elon University baseball was unable to respond, dropping the series opener 3-0 on Friday, Feb. 28 at Latham Park.

"We knew coming in that [Tristan] Weaver has great stuff and his numbers indicate that," said head coach Mike Kennedy after the loss. "I think he'd given up three hits all year coming into tonight, so we knew runs were going to be very difficult to come by and he proved that. He had a steady mix of fastballs on both sides of the plate with a really good breaking ball. On the flip side of that, we told our guys we couldn't give up free bases and we have to limit our mistakes. We got behind in the count all night. Offensively they haven't put up a ton of numbers but they swing at good counts and made some of them a little better than they were. We just have to get creative and find ways to get on base. We need somebody to give us a spark."
 
AT THE PLATE
Anthony Galason went 1-for-3 with a double and a walk and J.P. Sponseller finished 1-for-4 with a double. Nick Cicci had the other hit for the Phoenxi (6-3) as he turned in a 1-for-4 outing.

ON THE MOUND
Starter Jared Wetherbee was handed the loss to fall to 1-1 on the season. The junior allowed one run on four hits and as many walks while fanning five batters in 4.1 innings. Kyle Greenler tossed the next 4.0 innings, giving up two runs with only one them earned. Owen Lorenz also made an appearance out of the pen, collecting two punch outs in 0.2 innings.

THE RUNDOWN
After four scoreless innings, the Sycamores (3-5) finally broke through in the top of the fifth inning. The leadoff man singled up the middle and proceeded to steal second, then came around on a double to right. The visitors added to their lead 2-0 with another tally in the sixth. With two outs, a failed pickoff attempt allowed an ISU baserunner to move from first to third. A hit back up the middle then scored the unearned run.

Elon looked like it might come up with a response in the home half of the inning. Garrett Stonehouse reached on a fielder's choice and then stole second. Galason followed with a four-pitch walk and the pair then benefited from a failed pickoff move to get Stonehouse at second. However, Weaver fooled Matt Oldham on the 1-2 pitch to keep the maroon and gold off the board. The Phoenix had another opportunity to answer in the bottom of the seventh. Cicci started off with a hit to left but was erased on a Roberts' fielders choice. Tyler Cranston was later hit by a pitch to put a runner in scoring position with two away, but Elon couldn't capitalize as Weaver got Alex Iadisernia to go down swinging.

Indiana State tacked on one more run in the eighth. A one-out single and a double that dropped just fair down the right field line placed runners on the corners. The ensuing batter then skied a 2-2 offering deep enough to center for the sacrifice fly.

NOTES
-Today's game was just the third meeting in the all-time series that sees the Sycamores take a 2-1 advantage.
-Wetherbee tossed one more out than his shortest career start.
-Greenler's 4.0 innings pitched mark a new career high.
-After giving up a hit, Lorenz struck out the next two batters. He now has six strikeouts through 3.0 innings this season and has yet to surrender a run.
-Oldham threw out a runner trying to steal in the top of the first. Elon catchers have now caught runners trying to steal in four straight games.

UP NEXT
The teams return for Game Two tomorrow afternoon, Feb. 29 with a 2 p.m. start at Latham Park.