ELON, N.C. – After trailing 6-1 through two and a half innings, Elon University baseball scored six runs down the stretch to secure a 9-7 comeback victory over Longwood on Friday, Feb. 25 at Latham Park.

"Really pleased with the effort we put forth in battling back from an early deficit," said head coach Mike Kennedy on the win. "I thought our bullpen was outstanding after giving up the six runs. Both Shea Sprague and Kyle Greenler threw up some zeros, which allowed our offense to battle back."

ON THE MOUND
Greenler received the win after holding the Lancers (3-3) scoreless through the final 2.2 innings of the game. The Georgetown, Mass. native gave up just one hit and struck out two to improve to 1-0. Trevor Kirk was tagged for seven runs (three earned) on seven hits and a walk in the 5.0-inning start. He finished with eight strikeouts in the no decision. Sprague also came out of the pen, throwing 1.1 innings with one hit, one walk and one strikeout.

AT THE PLATE
Justin Cassella made the most of his first start of the season. The outfielder was a triple short of hitting for the cycle, batting 3-for-4 with a home run, a double, three runs, two RBIs and a base on balls. Alex Iadisernia had the other multi-hit outing for the Phoenix (2-3) with a 2-for-4 effort. He added a run scored and a run batted in to his totals. Willie Havens hit a two-run homer in a 1-for-4 day at the plate, and Will Vergantino also drove in two runs and hit 1-for-4 with a double. Connor Coolahan went 1-for-2 with a run and a walk, Luke Stephenson contributed a 1-for-4 performance, and Parker Haskin collected Elon's other hit as he batted 1-for-5 with a an RBI double.

"Offensively it was great to have Cassella back out there," added Kennedy. "He just brings a lot of energy and excitement in how he plays the game. Willie also some big-time pop in that bat. He was able to get one tonight that got us back in the game and then Justin gets a good pitch to hit with a 2-0 count and does some damage with it."

THE RUNDOWN
Longwood's offense came out firing with two runs in the top of the first. After a leadoff single and a walk, Jack Schnell doubled down the right-field line to plate both runners. Elon responded with a run in the home half of the frame as Cassella reached on a bunt single and was waved home on a Haskin two-base hit to left field. He then took third as a Lancer throwing error by the cutoff man sailed over the catcher's head. Haskin broke for home on an Iadisernia ground ball to first, but Longwood was able to make the throw to the plate in time to turn the double play.

The Lancers jumped out to a 6-1 advantage with another four runs in the second inning. With two outs and runners in scoring position, a hit back up the middle pushed Longwood's lead to 4-1. Hunter Gilliam then sent the first pitch he saw over the wall in right field for another two runs. The Phoenix was able to get two runs back in the bottom of the third as a Cassella double down the left-field line brought in Coolahan from first. Cassella then moved up to third on a Haskin fly out to the gap in right and touched home on an Iadisernia single up the middle. The run trimmed Longwood's lead in half, 6-3.

Another home run, this one a solo shot by Schnell, made it a 7-3 visitor lead in the top of the fifth. Elon didn't back down though and used a four-run bottom of the sixth to pull even at 7-7. Iadisernia led off the frame with another single up the middle before Havens smacked a 2-2 to right center for a two-run blast. Longwood then made a pitching change and was able to reture Stephenson, but Reynolds and Samuel Frontino drew back-to-back walks and Vergantino scored them with a two-bagger to right field.

Cassella gave Elon its first lead of the game and what proved to be the decisive run with a solo home run in the seventh. The Phoenix then added an insurance run in the eighth as Nicholas Carr, who entered the game as a pinch runner, scored from third on a wild pitch.

"I'm really pleased overall with the win," concluded Kennedy. "Good to show some fight early in the year."

NOTES
- The Phoenix walked two batters. Elon entered the game leading the country with 1.29 walks allowed per nine innings.
- Havens homered for the second time this season and is now tied with Connor Offshack for the team lead.
- This was the second multi-home run game of the season for the Phoenix.
- Kirk threw 58-of-81 (71.6 percent) pitches for strikes, Sprague tossed 12-of-18 (66.7 percent) and Greenler 22-of-28 (78.6 percent).
- Havens and Iadisernia push their hit streaks to four games.
- Elon outhit Longwood, 10-9.
- The seven runs are the most by an opponent this season.
- Elon's five extra-base hits are a team-high.
- The Phoenix struck out 11 batters, compared to four by the Lancers' pitchers.
- Both teams committed one error.
- Carr made his collegiate debut.

UP NEXT
The teams continue the series tomorrow with a 2 p.m. start to game two.