ELON, N.C. – A five-run bottom of the first fueled a 6-4 win and a series victory for Elon University baseball as the maroon and gold defeated Georgia Southern on Friday afternoon, May 14 at Latham Park. The Phoenix improves to 19-18 on the season.

ON THE MOUND
Ben Simon earned the win and improved to 1-4. The East Windsor, N.J. native allowed three runs, two earned, on two hits and two walks. He added one strikeout in 3.0 innings of relief. Joe Sprake got the save after retiring the side in the top of the ninth. Joe Savino struck out three and was tagged for one run on two hits and as many walks in a 3.0-inning start. Will Gambino also tossed 2.0 innings out of the pen. His game totals included one hit, one base on balls and two punch outs.

AT THE PLATE
Anthony Galason paced Elon's bats as he went 3-for-4, drove in two runs, scored once and stole a base. Nick Cicci batted 1-for-2 with a home run, two runs, an RBI and a walk. Adam Spurlin and Jarrett Pico both finished 1-for-3, with Spurlin adding two RBIs and a swiped bag. Alex Iadisernia collected the team's other hit as he had a 1-for-4 day with a two-base hit and a run. Also scoring were Justin Cassella and Tyler Cranston while Garrett Stonehouse earned an RBI.

THE RUNDOWN
Elon jumped ahead early with five runs on two hits and an error in the bottom of the first. The Phoenix loaded the bases quickly as Cassella drew a leadoff walk, Cranston was hit by a pitch and was then safe at second on a GS fielding error as Iadisernia reached on a fielder's choice. Galason then sent the first pitch he saw down the right-field line for a two-RBI single. The Colts Neck, N.J. native then stole second before the Eagles (28-20) retired Cole Reynolds for the first out of the frame. Cicci worked a 3-2 count to run the bags full again, and Iadisernia scored on a Stonehouse ground out to third for the 3-0 lead. Spurlin followed with a hit back up the middle, plating another two as Elon built the 5-0 advantage.

GS finally broke through with a run in the top of the third. With one away and the bases loaded, a sacrifice fly to right got the Eagles on the board. The visitors then manufactured another run in the fifth as a wild pitch allowed a runner to come home from third. In the home half of the sixth, a Cicci two-out solo shot to just right of the scoreboard pushed the Elon lead to 6-2.

The Eagles closed the gap with a two-run top of the seventh. Back-to-back walks and a passed ball moved runners into scoring positing. Gambino retired the next two batters with a fly out to left and a strikeout swinging, but a hit to right plated two as GS trimmed Elon's lead to 6-4. After a wild pitch and a walk placed runners on first and second, a line out to second ended the threat. Elon then retired the Eagles in order in the eighth and ninth innings to seal the victory.

NOTES
- The win marked the first as a Phoenix for Simon.
- Elon improves to 28-24 in the all-time series, including a 14-9 lead when playing at Latham Park.
- The maroon and gold is now 11-11 in non-conference play.
- This is the team's sixth series win of the season and third against a non-conference opponent.
- Elon has now won three weekend series against an opponent in the Top 100 RPI rankings.
- The Phoenix has jumped up 108 spots in the RPI rankings in the past month, moving from 228 to 120 as of May 14.
- The save marked Sprake's second in as many days and sixth of the year.
- Elon hit 2-for-3 (.667) with runners on third and less than two outs.

UP NEXT
Elon and GS close out the series with a 1 p.m. finale tomorrow. The game marks Senior Day for the Phoenix.