ELON, N.C. – Elon University baseball could not slow down the No. 3 Notre Dame offense as the Phoenix (6-6) dropped the midweek game, 11-3 on Tuesday, March 8 at Latham Park.

"We knew coming in that this was a really good club and talked about trying to hang in there and staying away from the big inning," said head coach Mike Kennedy. "We believed that to have a shot, we could not afford a big inning and they got one early. Outside of that third inning, I thought we pitched it pretty good."

ON THE MOUND
Ian Evans falls to 0-2 on the season after getting roughed up for six runs (three of them earned) on four hits. He did not issue a walk and added one strikeout in the 2.2-inning start. Sam DiLella was tagged for four runs (two earned) on six hits and a walk, adding one strikeout in 1.1 innings of relief. Cole Reynolds also gave up one run on two hits in 0.1 innings of work.

Also making appearances were Jake Nolan, Cam Seguin, Ben Simon, Ben Sieracki and Liam Dabagian.

AT THE PLATE
Elon collected just four hits in the game. Griffin Arnone and Parker Haskin entered as late pinch hitters and singled in both of their at bats, with Haskin also driving in a run. Justin Cassella hit 1-for-3 with a double, a run scored and an RBI. Charlie Granatell finished 1-for-3 and Samuel Frontino and Alex Iadisernia both scored a run each.

THE RUNDOWN
After hitting the first batter of the game, Evans settled down and retired the next six batters he faced. However, the Fighting Irish (9-1) broke open the game with eight runs on as many hits and one error in the top of the third. The visitors quickly loaded the bases before a single through the right side scored the first run of the game. ND made it 2-0 as the next batter reached on an Elon fielding error. A hit to center made it a 3-0 game before Carlos Marte caught a liner for the first out of the inning. The Irish wasn't done though as a runner came home on a sacrifice fly to center before ND's Brooks Coutzee hit a three-run homer for the 7-0 lead. A double and two more singles gave the guests an 8-0 advantage.

The Irish tacked on two more runs in the fourth as a double down the right-field line allowed runners to score from first and second. Elon finally pushed across a run in the home half of the inning. Frontino drew a leadoff walk and took second on a wild pitch. He then moved up to third on an Iadisernia fly out to center field before coming home on another wild pitch. The Phoenix added two more runs in the seventh as Cassella brought in Iadisernia from second with a double to the gap in left. Haskin then pinch hit for Willie Havens and sent a 1-2 pitch through the left side of the ND defense, plating Cassella for the 10-3 deficit.

ND rounded out the scoring with a run in the ninth. Zack Prajzner hit a ground-rule double down the right-field line and came around on a Danny Neri hit back up the middle.

"That's a talented, veteran team that is well-coached," added Kennedy. "They will be tough on everyone they play. We have to have a short memory and get ready for the weekend."

NOTES
- Notre Dame now leads 2-0 in the all-time series.
- Elon retired the Irish in order in the second and fifth innings.
- Granatell continued his hit streak and reached-base streak, both of which are at four games. Additionally, Frontino has now reached safely in eight games.
- Both teams combined to use 14 pitchers in the game.
- Elon's arms combined to throw 109-of-163 (66.9 percent) pitches for strikes.
- It was the first appearance of the season for Sieracki.
- Elon left three runners on base while ND stranded 10 runners.
- Both teams committed one error each.
- Elon hit .133 (4-for-30) in the game, .222 (2-for-9) with two outs, .167 (2-for-12) with runners on and .333 (2-for-6) with runners in scoring position.

UP NEXT
Elon will host the first two games of a three-game series with UNC Greensboro this Friday and Saturday, March 11-12. Friday is scheduled for a 4 p.m. start and Saturday will begin at 2 p.m. The Phoenix will then head to Greensboro on Sunday, March 13 for the 2 p.m. series finale.