WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – Elon University baseball could not complete the comeback on Sunday, April 18 as the maroon and gold fell 9-7 to William & Mary in the CAA series finale at Plumeri Park.

"Tough weekend to say the least," said head coach Mike Kennedy. "Coming off last weekend, we knew going on the road was going to be tough and that William & Mary would be ready. They answered the bell and we didn't. A couple miscues cost us game one, then we dug ourselves too big a hole in games two and three. Fought back but couldn't get over the hump. Obviously disappointed in the outcomes, but we have to get back to work and continue to grow and get better."

ON THE MOUND
Brian Edgington falls to 1-3 as he was roughed up for seven runs on eight hits and one walk in a 1.0-inning start. Ben Sieracki tossed the next 1.1 innings, issuing four walks with one hit. Trevor Kirk held the Tribe (9-18, 6-6 CAA) to two runs (one earned) on two hits and one walk. The Wake Forest, N.C. native collected nine strikeouts in 5.1 innings out of the pen. Joe Sprake also made an appearance as he walked one of 1-of-2 batters he faced in 0.1 innings pitched.

AT THE PLATE
The Phoenix (11-16, 4-5) had five players turn in multi-hit performances. Garrett Stonehouse doubled twice and added two runs, two RBIs and a walk in a 2-for-4 day for the redshirt senior. Cole Reynolds and Adam Spurlin also hit 2-for-4 with one double each. Reynolds drove in two runs and walked once, while Spurlin added a run and an RBI to his totals. Anthony Galason batted 2-for-5 with a stolen base and Justin Cassella ended up 2-for-6 with one double, two runs and one RBI. Also collecting hits were Nick Cicci (1-for-3) and Parker Haskin (1-for-4). 

THE RUNDOWN
W&M jumped out to an early 3-0 lead with a three-run bottom of the first. With one out, a single up the middle and a swiped bag placed a runner in scoring position. The next batter then singled to left center for the first run of the game. With the bases loaded later in the inning, a single to center plated a pair before Edgington picked off the runner at first.

Elon answered with a four-spot in the top of the second. Cicci drew a one-out walk and moved up to second on a Haskin hit through the right side. Stonehouse then delivered a a two-RBI double down the left-field line and later touched home on a Cassella single to the gap in right, knotting the score at 3-3. The Phoenix then took the lead as Spurlin drove in Cassella with a two-base hit down the left-field line.

The lead was short-lived though as the hosts responded with four runs on four hits in the home half of the frame. Elon was able to close the gap 7-6 with two runs in the fourth. Stonehouse led off with a double and took third on a Jarrett Pico ground out to second. The Westport, Conn. native then crossed the final 90 feet on a wild pitch. After Cassella doubled and Spurlin was hit by a pitch, Alex Iadisernia worked a 3-2 count to run the bags full with one out. W&M was able to retire Galason on a pop up to shallow right field, but Reynolds also walked on a full count to pick up an RBI.

W&M went back up by two, 8-6 with a solo home run to right in the fifth. Elon threatened again in the top of the sixth. Spurlin started off with a single to center and advanced on an Iadisernia ground out to second. Galason then grounded out to third before Reynolds doubled down the left-field line to bring home Spurlin. Cicci singled through the left side and Haskin walked to load the bases, but the Phoenix couldn't capitalize on the opportunity as Stonehouse went down swinging. Elon had runners on first and second with one away in the top of the eighth, but the Tribe escaped as Matt Oldham popped up to right and Haskin flew out to right. The home team then added an insurance run in the bottom half of the inning as a runner scored from third on a wild pitch.

NOTES
- Kirk's 5.1 innings pitched and nine strikeouts mark career highs.
- Elon's lead in the all-time series falls to 19-14.
- The Phoenix left 12 batters on base, compared to six by the Tribe.
- The maroon and gold hit .308 (12-for-49), but just .250 (4-for-16) with runners in scoring position.
- Elon pitchers recorded a 58.44 (90-of-154) strike percentage.
- Galason continued his reached base streak as he has now reached in 18-straight games. Iadisernia walked twice to push his reached base streak to 13 games, but his hitting streak ends at 12 games.
 
UP NEXT
Elon will be back home next weekend as the team hosts UNCW for three conference games at Latham Park on Friday-Sunday, April 23-25.