ELON, N.C. – Elon University baseball grabbed its first win of the season and improved to 1-2 as the Phoenix took the series finale versus Fairfield 7-4 on Sunday, Feb. 20 at Latham Park.

"It's early in the season, but going down 2-0 at home made today a big game," head coach Mike Kennedy said after the win. "I was proud of our energy. I thought our guys showed up ready to go."

ON THE MOUND
Brian Edgington (1-0) picked up the win after holding the Stags (2-1) to two runs on four hits and one walk. He struck out five batters in the 6.0-inning start.

"Edgington was very good," Kennedy said about the Hatboro, Pa. native. "He had a very efficient outing and made one mistake. He gave us the start we needed to go out and get on top early."

Cole Reynolds tossed 2.0 innings of relief and gave up one run on one hit. He did not walk anyone and added a punch out to his totals. Ben Simon then closed the door with two strikeouts in the ninth. The sophomore from East Windsor, N.J. was responsible for the other Fairfield run with one hit against him. He also did not walk anyone.

AT THE PLATE
Willie Havens capped off his weekend with a 3-for-4 day the plate. He hit a solo home run and finished with one run, one RBI and a base on balls. Connor Coolahan hit 2-for-3 with a double. He drove in two runs, scored one himself and also walked twice. Parker Haskin had Elon's other multi-hit performance as he batted 2-for-4 with a double, a run and a walk. Also collecting hits were Alex Iadisernia, Alex Duffey and Reynolds. Griffin Arnone contributed a pair of RBI ground outs while Samuel Frontino walked three times, stole a base and scored twice.

"Thought we left a lot of opportunities to pull away from them on the field," added Kennedy. "Had some pretty good at bats to get guys in scoring position, but we struggled to put together good at bats with guys on as we left 15 runners stranded. The bottom of our order did some damage today and they helped us a little with walks."

THE RUNDOWN
Elon's offense got started in the second inning. With one out, Reynolds drew a walk, Havens singled through the right side and Coolahan also walked to load the bases. Reynolds then touched home on an Arnone ground out to first as the Phoenix opened the scoring 1-0.

The maroon and gold tacked on three more runs in the fourth. Havens led off the frame with a solo shot to right, his first home run of the season. Coolahan followed with a single back to the pitcher before Fairfield was able to retire the next two batters. That led to Haskin drilling the first pitch he saw to right center for a two-base hit. Fairfield's right fielder couldn't handle the ball, and the error allowed Coolahan to come home on the play. Iadisernia then sent a 3-1 pitch to the same spot for another double to right center. Haskin easily trotted home and the Phoenix pushed its lead to 4-0.

In the bottom of the fifth, Frontino drew a leadoff walk and then used a swim move around the Fairfield tag to steal second base. Reynolds walked again and Havens executed a perfect bunt that the Stags could not make a play on. Another Arnone ground out to first brought in Frontino and Elon went ahead 5-0.

Fairfield finally got some life with a two-run top of the sixth. Collin Kelly doubled down the left-field line to lead off the inning before Mike Becchetti homered down the left-field line to make it 5-2. The visitors then cut the Elon lead to 5-3 in the seventh inning. Matt Bergevin doubled to left field, took third base on a balk, and came around on an Evan Berta ground out to second.

Momentum shifted right back to the Phoenix in the bottom of the eighth, though, as Elon quickly ran the bags full. Frontino worked a full count and Reynolds was hit by a pitch. Havens looked like he was going to execute a sacrifice bunt, but the Fairfield reliever could not find the strike zone as Havens took the free pass to first. That set up Coolahan and the redshirt sophomore delivered a double down the left-field line for two more insurance runs. The Stags were able to get a run back in the ninth as Matt Zaffino scored from first on a Bergevin double to left center, but Simon got the next batter to chase a 2-2 pitch to bring the game to its close.

NOTES
- Edgington threw 53-of-74 (71.6 percent) pitches for strikes.
- Elon outhit Fairfield, 10-6 and drew 10 walks in the game.
- The Phoenix had at least one batter reach base in all eight offensive innings.
- Elon pitchers issued four walks in the series, and two of those were intentional.
- Fairfield's Colin McVeigh (0-1) was handed the loss after allowing four runs on six hits and three walks through 3.2 innings.
- The Stags used six pitchers in the game and all but one allowed multiple Elon walks.
- Havens' home run was the seventh of his career.
- Duffey's single in the bottom of the third inning marked his first career hit.

UP NEXT
Elon has a short trip to Chapel Hill, N.C. this Tuesday for a 4 p.m. meeting with North Carolina.