ELON, N.C. – Alex Iadisernia was the hero as his walk-off home run in the 12th inning gave Elon University baseball a 4-3 comeback victory over UNC Greensboro in Friday's series opener at Latham Park. The Phoenix improves to 7-6 overall with the win.

"Gutty win tonight," said head coach Mike Kennedy. "Started off a little shaky defensively, but our pitching staff battled and competed all night. Joe Savino was gritty as heck and just wouldn't give in. Shea Sprague was outstanding. He kept us in it and Kyle Greenler just keeps putting up zeros."

ON THE MOUND
Greenler picked up the win and improves to 3-0 on the season. The Georgetown, Mass. native tossed 4.1 shutout innings, did not give up a hit, walked three batters and struck out three. Savino went 6.0 innings and was tagged for three runs (two earned) on 10 hits in the no decision. He did not walk anyone and recorded four strikeouts. Sprague kept the visitors off the board in 1.2 innings of relief. The true freshman gave up two hits and didn't issue a walk.

AT THE PLATE
Iadisernia finished 2-for-6 with the big fly, a double, two runs and an RBI. Samuel Frontino went 3-for-6 with a stolen base and Justin Cassella doubled and drove in two runs in a 2-for-4 outing. Parker Haskin contributed a 1-for-3 effort with a walk and one run scored and Charlie Granatell walked twice and hit 1-for-4.

THE RUNDOWN
The Spartans (7-7) scored one run in the second, third and fourth innings. After a pair of singles put runners on first and second in the top of the second, Frontino fielded a grounder and stepped on third for the force out. He then fired over to first to get the batter, but his throw got past Cole Reynolds and the error allowed UNCG to place two runners in scoring position. Savino was able to induce a pop up to shallow left field for out number two, but Carlos Marte could not field a ground ball and another error allowed the guests to take the 1-0 lead. The Spartans made it 2-0 with three straight one-out singles in the third.

Elon cut the Spartan lead in half in the bottom of the third. Haskin reached on a bunt and got up to third on a throwing error by the UNCG pitcher. He then tagged up on a Connor Coolahan sacrifice fly to left. The Phoenix was able to turn a 6-4-3 double play in the top of the fourth, but the lead runner reached third on the play and came around on a single back up the middle. Fast forward to the bottom of the sixth and Iadisernia hit a one-out double to right center before scoring on a Cassella double off the 325 sign down the right-field line. Elon then pulled even at 3-3 in the eighth. With two outs, Luke Stephenson walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch. The Algonac, Mich. native then trotted home on a Cassella hit throught the right side of the defense.

"We gave them a few too many chances with a few defensive miscues," added Kennedy. "Then when the game was on the line, we did some great things in the middle of the Diamond turning some big double plays."

UNCG applied the pressure in 10th, 11th and 12 innings. Greenler retired the first batter in the 10th on a fly out to center. He got the next batter to swing and miss at a 1-2 pitch, but Reynolds could not snag Haskin's throw to first and the error allowed the runner to take second. Following a walk, the Phoenix got out of the frame with another 6-4-3 double play. A leadoff walk, a sac bunt and a fly out to left in the 11th put a runner on third for UNCG, but Greenler got out of the jam with a fly out to left center. Elon then turned another 6-4-3 double play in the 12th.

That set up Iadisernia as the leadoff man for the Phoenix in the 12th, and the Jackson, N.J. came through in the clutch with a hit over the wall in right center.

"We had a few chances in extras, put some pressure on them and finally came through with one big swing from Alex," concluded Kennedy.

NOTES
- Elon improves to 38-26 in the all-time series.
- The Phoenix is now 15-8 when playing the Spartans at Latham Park.
- The win snaps UNCG's five-game win streak in the series.
- It was Iadisernia's first home run of the season and the 11th of his career.
- Elon hit .231 (9-for-39) in the game, .333 (4-for-12) with two outs, .250 (4-for-16) with runners on and .300 (3-for-10) with runners in scoring position.
- Savino, Sprague and Greenler combined to throw 112-of-170 (65.9 percent) pitches for strikes.
- Greenler's 4.2 innings thrown marks a new career high.
- Granatell pushed his hitting streak to five games while Frontino has now reached base in nine straight games.

UP NEXT
Saturday's game has been moved to a 4 p.m. start on Monday, March 14 due to inclement weather expected tomorrow. UNCG will host Game Two at 2 p.m. this Sunday, March 13 at UNCG Baseball Stadium.