GREENSBORO, N.C. – Elon University baseball built an early 6-0 lead and hit three home runs as the Phoenix (8-6) won 13-6 at UNCG on Sunday, March 13.

"It was good to get the series win," said head coach Mike Kennedy. "Coming up with five two-out runs against an arm like Austin Parsley is hard to do. They wouldn't go away, and we knew we were going to have to keep scoring. We had some big hits from several guys today, but Parker Haskin's two were huge."

ON THE MOUND
Cam Seguin received the win and improved to 1-1 on the season. The left-handed pitcher from Woburn, Mass. gave up two runs on three hits with two strikeouts in 1.2 innings of relief. Starter Brian Edgington tallied nine strikeouts on the day, but allowed four runs on eight hits and four walks through 4.0 innings for a no decision. Trevor Kirk tossed 2.1 scoreless innings out of the pen, struck out three and allowed one hit and one base on balls. Ben Simon pitched the ninth inning and recorded two punch outs.
 
"Edgington didn't have great command today, but his stuff was good," continued Kennedy. "UNCG did a good job of running his pitch count up. Cam was a couple pitches away from having a solid outing and Trevor was very good. Simon came in and pumped strike after strike to seal it for us."

AT THE PLATE
Four Elon batters turned in multiple hit efforts. Luke Stephenson was a perfect 4-for-4 with a home run, a double, three runs scored, two RBIs and two walks. Haskin finished 3-for-5 as he doubled, drove in four runs, scored once and earned a base on balls. Carlos Marte batted 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI and Will Vergantino hit 2-for-5 with a homer, two runs and one RBI. Charlie Granatell also went deep and added a walk in a 1-for-5 day at the plate and Samuel Frontino finished 1-for-3 with two runs, an RBI, a walk and a stolen base.

THE RUNDOWN
Elon's offense had a quick start with five runs in the top of the first. With two outs and Frontino standing on second, the Chardon, Ohio native scored the first run of the game on a Stephenson double to left center. After Stephenson advanced to third, Justin Cassella walked and took second on a wild pitch. Haskin then brought the pair home with a double to right field and later scored on a Marte hit to left. UNCG's left fielder was unable to field a Cole Reynolds fly ball, and the error allowed Marte to come around for the 5-0 lead.
 
The Phoenix went up 6-0 as Granatell led off the top of the second with a solo shot to left field. UNCG's offense finally came through with four runs in the home half of the third, but Stephenson answered with a big fly in the fourth to make it 7-4. Later in the sixth, Vergantino led off with a homer to left field for the 8-4 lead. The Spartans (7-8) refused to go away though as a double to the gap in right and a single to the gap in left plated two runs.
 
Frontino came up with one out and the bases loaded in the seventh and hit the first pitch he saw to left center for an RBI single. Vergantino moved up to third on the play and then tagged up on an Alex Iadisernia sacrifice fly to center as the Phoenix pushed its lead to 10-6. Elon loaded the bases again in the ninth and a wild pitch allowed Frontino to score from third. Haskin then singled to right to drive in two more runs as the Phoenix went up 13-6. Simon entered the game in the bottom of the ninth. He struck out the first two batters he faced before inducing a fly out to right to bring the game to a close.

NOTES
- Granatell and Vergantino both hit their first career home runs.
- Elon's three home runs marks a single-game high for the Phoenix this season.
- Elon is now ahead 39-26 in the all-time series and takes a 19-18 lead when playing at UNCG Baseball Stadium.
- The Phoenix hit .342 (13-for-38) in the game. Elon also batted .429 (6-for-14) with two outs, .304 (7-for-23) with runners on and .375 (6-for-16) with runners in scoring position.
- Elon's arms combined for 16 strikeouts against five walks. UNCG's pitchers tallied nine strikeouts and nine walks.
- The 13 runs scored ties the team's season high while the 13 hits are a new season best.
- This is the fifth time this season Elon has reached double-digit hits.
- It was Seguin's first win as a Phoenix.
- Both teams turned one double play.
- This is the third series win of the season for the maroon and gold.

UP NEXT
The series concludes tomorrow with a 4 p.m. game back at Latham Park.