ELON, N.C. – Tyler Cranston roped a walk-off RBI hit in the 11th inning as Elon University baseball earned the CAA series victory over Charleston with a 12-11 final on Saturday, May 1 at Latham Park. The Phoenix (16-17, 8-6 CAA) stormed back from a 10-4 deficit with six runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. 

"What a crazy day," head coach Mike Kennedy said. "A lot of ups and downs through out that one! One thing that's for certain is these guys don't quit. They have showed some resilience and just keep battling. Both teams again today making it tough to get off the field. They scored first with seven runs on two outs and we get six in the eighth with two outs. Unreal. Proud of the guys. We have a vet in Garrett Stonehouse come up big with the three-run homer in the eighth and a freshmen in Justin Cassella deliver with two outs in the 10th. Cranston delivers the game winner in the 11th. Not a pretty game by either side but certainly an entertaining game if you were there!"

ON THE MOUND
Joe Sprake (5-0) picks up the win, striking out two and allowing one unearned run on one hit in 3.0 innings in relief. Starter Trevor Kirk surrendered seven runs, five earned, on five hits and two walks. He collected two punch outs in 4.2 innings pitched. Ben Sieracki was responsible for three runs on three hits and one walk, adding one strikeout through 1.2 innings. Noah Jensen and Wyatt Beddow also made appearances.

AT THE PLATE
Cassella drove in four runs on a 3-for-5 day at the plate. The freshman from Bernardsville, N.J. doubled, scored once and stole twice. Also turning in multi-hit outings were Willie Havens (2-for-4) and Jarrett Pico (2-for-5). Havens doubled and scored three runs while Pico added two runs and an RBI to his totals. Stonehouse collected three RBIs as the redshirt senior hit a three-run blast and came around twice in a 1-for-5 performance. Cranston finished 1-for-2 with the RBI hit and a walk, and Adam Spurlin hit 1-for-3 with a run scored. Cole Reynolds also homered and drew a walk as he batted 1-for-4.

THE RUNDOWN
The Cougars (17-18, 7-7) finally broke through with a four-run top of the fourth. After a single up the middle with runners on first and second gave the visitors the 1-0 lead, CofC's Landon Choboy hit a three-run homer to left. Elon then got a run back in the bottom half of the inning as Reynolds hit a two-out solo shot off the batter's eye. After the Cougars pulled away with another three runs in the fifth, the Phoenix answered with three runs on four hits in the home half of the frame. Havens and Spurlin led off with back-to-back singles before a Pico hit to left plated Havens from second. Cassella then singled up the middle for an RBI and Pico later came home on a wild pitch to close the gap, 7-4.

Charleston pushed its lead to 10-7 with an RBI ground out in the sixth and a two-run top of the seventh. The maroon and gold then exploded for six runs on four hits and an error in the eighth. With two outs, a Nick Cicci single and a Havens double down the right-field line placed runners in scoring position. J.P. Sponseller walked to load the bases and Pico reaced on a fielding error by the CofC shortstop as Cicci crossed the plate. Cassella sent the first pitch he saw down the left-field line, driving in a pair on the two-bagger. Following a pitching change, Stonehouse then greeted the new Cougar hurler with a three-run bomb to left center, tying the game at 10-10.

With the international tie-breaking rule in play, Charleston retook the lead with a run in the 10th. Carlos Marte was able to move Havens over to third on a sacrifice bunt, but Pico struck out for out number two. Down to its final out and facing an 0-2 count, Cassella came through in a key moment with an RBI single to the gap in the left. With one out and a runner on third in the top of the 11th, Pico made a heads-up play as he fielded a grounder and fired home to get the lead runner. Sprake then induced a pop up to Pico for the third out. Stonehouse was placed on second to start the bottom of the inning, and the Westport, Conn. native was waved home on Cranston's hit off the wall in left.

NOTES
- With the win, Elon is now atop the CAA South Division standings.
- The Phoenix has now won four straight against the Cougars and closes the gap in the all-time series to 33-27.
- This is the first time Elon has won every home conference series since 2018. The program has lost one league series at home since then, dropping 2-of-3 games to UNCW to finish the 2019 regular season.
- Eight of the last nine games Elon has played have been decided by three runs or less. Five of the last six have been decided by one run.
- Elon is 9-4 in games decided by a run this season.
- The walk-off hit marks the team's sixth of the season.
- Elon has now won eight of its last nine home games.
- This is Elon's third-straight series win over Charleston dating back to the 2018 season.
- The game marked the fourth conference game that has gone to extras this year and Elon is 4-0 in those contests. 

UP NEXT
Elon and Charleston complete the weekend series with a 1 p.m. finale on Sunday.