ELON, N.C. – Elon University baseball could not answer some late offense by Hofstra as the Phoenix (11-10, 0-1) fell 6-2 in its CAA opener on Friday, March 25 at Latham Park.

"Tough way to start conference play," head coach Mike Kennedy said afterwards. "Felt like we got out-played in every area tonight. We got off to a pretty solid start through four innings, then when adversity hit us we didn't handle it very well. I thought they played better baseball. Pitched it better and came up with the big hits. We have to have a short memory tonight, regroup and get right back at it tomorrow."

ON THE MOUND
Joe Savino was roughed up for four runs on 10 hits and two walks in a five-inning start. He added three strikeouts to his totals and falls to 1-2 with the loss. Shea Sprague threw three scoreless innings in relief, scattering two hits with one base on balls and two strikeouts. Ben Sieracki was responsible for two unearned runs on one hit in 0.1 innings of work and Trevor Kirk struck out a pair and gave up one hit in 0.2 innings pitched.

AT THE PLATE
Six of Elon's starters collected a hit. Charlie Granatell led the way with a 3-for-5 effort, Alex Iadisernia hit 2-for-2 and drove in a run and Luke Stephenson contributed a 2-for-4 outing. Cole Reynolds went 1-for-3, Parker Haskin also finished 1-for-3 with a run scored, and Carlos Marte picked up an RBI in a 1-for-4 day.

THE RUNDOWN
Elon opened the scoring with one run in the bottom of the second. After Haskin singled up the middle with two outs and took second on a passed ball, Marte brought him in with an RBI single to center field. The Pride (9-7, 1-0) had a chance to answer with two outs and runners at first and second in the top of the fourth. Hofstra's Jake Liberatore hit an 0-1 pitch to center field and the lead runner was waved home, but Justin Cassella's throw to the plate was in time as Haskin applied the tag.

Hofstra pulled ahead 2-1 in the fifth as a Santino Rossi single up the middle scored runners from second and third. The Phoenix was able to pull even in the home half of the frame. Connor Coolahan drew a leadoff walk and moved up to second on a Granatell hit to left. Samuel Frontino then reached on a fielder's choice as the Pride got the force at second, but Coolahan reached third on the play. The Medford, N.J. native then knotted the score at 2-2 as he tagged up on an Iadisernia sac fly to right field.

The game wasn't tied for long, though as Hofstra pushed across two runs in the sixth. Liberatore led off with a double down the left-field line and advanced to third on a wild pitch. He then crossed the plate on a Kevin Bruggeman single to center field. Later in the inning, a single through the right side of the Elon defense allowed a runner to score from second as the Pride went up 4-2. Elon had it best chance to respond in the bottom of the eighth. After Iadisernia and Stephenson had back-to-back singles, Reynolds executed the sac bunt to move them into scoring position. The Phoenix couldn't capitalize on the opportunity as Cassella went down swinging and Connor Offshack grounded out to third.

Hofstra tacked on another two runs in the ninth. A fielding error and a ground rule double placed runners on second and third with one away. Kirk was able to strike out the next batter, but both runners came around on a Frank DiMartino single to right field. Granatell had a two-out knock in th bottom of the ninth, but Frontino flew out to center field to close out the game.
 
NOTES
- Hofstra cuts Elon's lead in the all-time lead in the series to 10-6.
-  The Phoenix is now 13-10 in league openers under Coach Kennedy, to include a 1-6 mark in CAA openers.
- Stephenson and Iadisernia extend their hit streaks to eight and seven games, respectively.
- It was the seventh multi-hit performance of the season for Iadisernia, the fifth for Stephenson and the third for Granatell.
- Iadisernia and Stephenson have both reached in nine straight games now and Coolahan has reached in seven.
- Cassella stole safely and is now 8-for-11 on the season.
- Elon hit .303 (10-for-33) on the night. The Phoenix also hit .462 (6-for-13) with two outs, .267 (4-for-15) with runners on, and .286 (2-for-7) with runners in scoring position.
- Elon recorded double-digit hits for the eighth time.
- Sieracki lowered his ERA from a 4.50 to 3.86.
- The Phoenix entered the game leading the nation with 2.10 walks per nine innings and issued three tonight.
- Elon turned two double plays in the loss. The maroon and gold came into Friday's game ranked third nationally in double plays (22) and fifth in double plays per game (1.10).

UP NEXT
Elon will look to even the series tomorrow as the teams return for a 2 p.m. start to Game Two.