ELON, N.C. – Brian Edgington shut out Toledo for seven innings and Elon University baseball won the series with a 3-1 final on Sunday afternoon, March 6 at Latham Park.

"Really pleased with the way we responded after Friday and to get out of here with a series win was good for these guys," said head coach Mike Kennedy. "I really liked our at bats and thought we did a really good job of working their staff and having baserunners in scoring position throughout the day. We left 13 on base, so I would have liked to have cashed in a few more of those, but we did some good things to get in scoring position. I thought Alex Iadisernia had a great weekend and was really good for us to get him going."

ON THE MOUND
Edgington held the Rockets (5-6) to just one run on six hits and improved to 2-0 with the win. He struck out six batters and did not walk anyone in the 7.2-inning start. Kyle Greenler took over for the final 1.1 innings and earned the save. He allowed just one hit and added a strikeout.

"Edge is really competing well right night and had a great day out there for us," added Kennedy. "Greenler has responded very nicely for us on the backend and was very good again today!"

AT THE PLATE
Carlos Marte batted 2-for-2 on the day with one sacrifice hit. Samuel Frontino went 1-for-2, walked twice, scored a run, stole a base and was hit by a pitch. Luke Stephenson also wore a pitch in a 1-for-3 effort and Will Vergantino finished 1-for-3 with a base on balls and a swiped bag. Charlie Granatell hit 1-for-4 with a run, a walk and a stolen base. Iadisernia collected the other hit for the Phoenix (6-5) as he doubled and scored once in a 1-for-5 performance.

THE RUNDOWN
Elon set the tone early with two runs in the bottom of the first. Granatell drew a leadoff walk and took third on a Frontino single to the gap in right. After Frontino stole second and Iadisernia went down looking, Stephenson was hit by a pitch to run the bags full. Toledo then tried to turn a 6-4-3 double play on a batted ball by Cole Reynolds as Granatell came home for the first run of the game. However, Reynolds was able to reach on a fielder's choice and a Toledo throwing error allowed Frontino to cross the plate as well.

The Rockets put runners in scoring position in both the third and fourth innings, but both times Edgington struck out the batter to leave them stranded. Toledo tried to get its offense going with a one-out hit to right in the top of the fifth, but Elon turned a 3-6-3 double play to get out of the frame. The visitors again had a runner on third in the sixth, but Edgington fooled the batter on the 2-2 pitch.

In the bottom of the seventh, Iadisernia started things off with a double to left center and moved up to third on a Stephenson single to center field. Griffin Arnone then pinch ran for Stephenson and stole second base before Reynolds worked a 3-2 count to load the bases. Justin Cassella helped provide an insurance run as Iadisernia tagged up on the sacrifice fly to left center.

Toledo finally broke through with a run in the eighth. Scott Mackiewicz doubled to right with one away and reached third on a John Servello ground out to third. Trey Wright then brought Mackiewicz home with a single to left. However, Greenler induced a ground out to second for the third out. The Rockets had another opportunity with two outs and a runner on third in the ninth, but Greenler struck out the batter to bring the game to its close.

NOTES
- Elon is now 17-10 all-time versus Mid-American Conference (MAC) schools.
- Edgington retired eight straight Toledo batters to start the game.
- Elon runners were 11-for-11 on stolen-base attempts this weekend. The team is now 18-for-19 on the season.
- Since losing its first two games of the year to Fairfield, the Phoenix has now won 6-of-7 at home while outscoring opponents 47-29 over that stretch.
- Edgington's 1.83 ERA through his first three starts is the best for an Elon pitcher since Jared Wetherbee started the 2020 season with a 1.76 ERA in his first three starts.
- Iadisernia has now doubled in three straight games and finished the weekend 6-for-13 () with three doubles and five RBIs. He's also reached base in all 11 games to start the year.
- Marte, Vergantino, Stephenson, Iadisernia and Granatell collected a hit in every game this weekend.
- Elon's bullpen allowed just three earned runs in 10 winnings of work. The Phoenix relievers struck out nine Toledo batters and issued just two walks.
- Elon pitching limited Toledo to three runs and a .214 average during the final two games of the series. They struck out 19 batters and walked one.

UP NEXT
Elon has a quick turnaround as the Phoenix hosts Notre Dame for a 4 p.m. game this Tuesday, March 8 at Latham Park.