WILMINGTON, N.C. – Joe Savino struck out 13 and held UNCW to four runs in a six-inning start, but Elon University baseball came up short 6-4 in the CAA series opener on Friday night, April 2 at Brooks Field.

"Thought we did a good job of hanging in there," said head coach Mike Kennedy. "Had some opportunities to turn this one around just couldn't get a big hit with guys on base. Thought Joe Savino was outstanding. Punching out 13 in his first conference start! One pitch here and one knock there and this thing could have gone our way. Get to bounce back and go at it again tomorrow."

ON THE MOUND
Savino surrendered four runs on six hits and one walk to fall to 0-1 with the loss. Tristan Corcoran was responsible for the other two runs as he gave up one hit and issued two walks. Trevor Kirk and Ben Sieracki also came out of the pen and recorded one strikeout each.
 
AT THE PLATE
Parker Haskin batted 1-for-3, drove in a run and scored another. Alex Iadisernia had the team's other hit and added an RBI in a 1-for-4 outing. Griffin Arnone scored twice for the Phoenix (6-12, 0-1 CAA), Jarrett Pico scored once and Cole Reynolds earned an RBI.

THE RUNDOWN
The Seahawks (14-8, 3-4) opened the scoring with a two-run bottom of the third. A one-out walk and a single through the right side of the Elon defense placed runners on the corners for Cole Weiss, and the redshirt-senior picked up an RBI on a ground out to third. UNCW's Kip Brandenburg then singled through the right side to make it a 2-0 lead.
 
Elon got a run back in the fourth as Arnone scored from third on an Iadisernia ground out to second. However, the hosts plated another pair of runs in the home half of the inning to extend their lead, 4-1. With two outs and runners on first and second, Brooks Baldwin doubled to right field to secure two RBIs. The maroon and gold then cut the deficit in half as a Haskin hit up the middle allowed Pico to score from second.
 
Corcoran retired the first two batters he faced in the bottom of the seventh, but Weiss singled to third and proceeded to steal second and third. Another pair of walks then loaded the bases as Kirk came out of the pen. After a third consecutive walk made it 5-2, Elon elected to get the force out at second but wasn't quick enough as another Seahawks runner came around.
 
In the top of the eighth, UNCW's Hunter Hodges issued three straight walks to open the frame. After Iadisernia flew out to left, Reynolds was hit by a pitch to close the gap, 6-3. The Seahawks were able to retire Garrett Stonehouse on a strikeout looking, but Arnone scored from third on a wild pitch. Willie Havens was then hit by a pitch to run the bags full again, but UNCW got out of the inning with another called third strike. The home team then retired the Phoenix in order in the ninth to hold on for the 6-4 final.

NOTES
- Today's game marked the first meeting between the two sides since Elon and UNCW met in the 2019 CAA Championship game.
- The 13 strikeouts mark a new career high for Savino. The strikeout total is also the most by an Elon pitcher since alum Kyle Brnovich struck out 13 in a 6-5 win over Northeastern on April 26, 2019.
- Savino threw 71-of-99 pitches for strikes.
- Elon left six runners on base, compared to eight left stranded by UNCW.
- Anthony Galason walked twice and was hit by a pitch. He extends his reached base streak to nine games.
- Iadisernia extends his hit streak to four games.
- UNCW now leads 43-31 in the all-time series.
- Elon was held to two hits, marking a season low.
 
UP NEXT
Elon and UNCW will meet again tomorrow for a 4 p.m. start at Brooks Field.