ELON, N.C. – Nick Cicci drove in a pair of late runs to pull Elon University baseball to within two, but the team's comeback bid fell just short as the Phoenix (5-9) dropped its midweek game to Wake Forest 4-2 on Tuesday evening, March 23 at Latham Park.

"Very good college baseball game," head coach Mike Kennedy said. "Thought we played pretty well having been off for nine days. They made us pay for a few mistakes and good teams will do that. Thought we competed on the mound for the most part and in the end got the tying and go-ahead run to the plate in the ninth."

ON THE MOUND
Spencer Bauer falls to 0-1 after giving up one run on two hits through 1.0 inning pitched. Brian Edgington then held the Demon Deacons (6-8) scoreless through 2.0 innings of relief. The redshirt sophomore did not give up a hit, issued one walk and struck out four. Kyle Greenler tallied three strikeouts and allowed one hit without walking anyone in 1.2 innings. Also making appearances were Ben Sieracki, Tristan Corcoran, Will Gambino, Trevor Kirk and Joe Sprake
 
AT THE PLATE
Cicci finished 1-for-1 in his lone plate appearance as a pinch hitter. Bryce Jeske also went 1-1 and scored a run in his only at bat. Griffin Arnone, Parker Haskin and Jarrett Pico all hit 1-for-2 with Arnone drawing one walk and Haskin scoring the team's other run.

THE RUNDOWN
Wake Forest opened the scoring in the top of the first as Lucas Costello hit a solo home run to left. After a scoreless second and third inning, the Deacs tacked on two more runs in the fourth as Shane Muntz singled up the middle before Adam Cecere connected on an 0-1 pitch for the 3-0 lead. The visitors then produced their final run of the game in the fifth as Pierce Bennett took a 3-1 offering over the wall in left for the team's third long ball of the game.

Elon finally manufactured a pair of runs in the home half of the seventh. Jeske entered as a pinch hitter for J.P. Sponseller and reached first on a hit back up the middle. Haskin then doubled to the wall in right to set up runners in scoring position with one out. Cicci then pinch hit for Pico and sent a 2-1 pitch to the wall in left to score both Jeske and Haskin as the maroon and gold found themselves in striking distance late in the game.

In the bottom of the ninth, Garrett Stonehouse drew a leadoff walk before Wake Forest retired Jack Roberts and Haskin. Cole Reynolds then pinch hit for Carlos Marte and drew a five-pitch walk. Elon then brought in Connor Offshack to pinch run and brought in Luke Coker as the potential winning run. However, Wake Forest's Eric Adler got Coker to ground out to second to bring the game to a close. 

NOTES
- It was the first career hit for Jeske.
- Wake Forest extends its all-time series lead to 62-10 and is now 13-10 when playing at Latham Park.
- The Deacs' three home runs marked season firsts for Bennett, Costello and Cecere.
- Edgington now leads the Phoenix with 20 strikeouts this season.
- Reynolds has now reached safely in 10 consecutive games while Haskin has reached in seven straight.
 
UP NEXT
Elon will open CAA play at James Madison this weekend, March 26-28. Game One on Friday will start at 3 p.m., Saturday's Game Two will begin at 2 p.m., and the series finale on Sunday is scheduled for a 1 p.m. first pitch.