HARRISONBURG, VA. – Elon University baseball couldn't overcome an early 4-0 deficit as the Phoenix (13-12, 1-3 CAA) dropped its CAA series opener at James Madison 8-4 on Friday, April 1 at Veterans Memorial Park.

"Big inning got us today," head coach Mike Kennedy said afterwards. "Four runs in the first put us in a hole early, then as we worked our way back in it we gave up the big inning again in the sixth. Offensively we put some pressure on them early, but from the fifth inning on we couldn't get anything going. The way the wind was out there today, I thought if we could keep getting guys on anything could happen."

ON THE MOUND
Starter Joe Savino fell to 1-3 after giving up five runs on as many hits with three walks. He recorded three strikeouts through three innings. Liam Dabagian tossed 2.1 innings in relief and was responsible for the other three runs. His totals included three hits, no walks and four strikeouts. Cam Seguin, Ian Evans and Spencer Bauer also made appearances.

AT THE PLATE
Alex Iadisernia finished the day 3-for-5 as he tripled, doubled, drove in two runs and stole one base. Connor Coolahan also doubled and added a run and an RBI in a 2-for-4 performance. Charlie Granatell turned in the other multi-hit outing as he hit 2-for-5 with one RBI. Parker Haskin batted 1-for-2 and scored once, Will Vergantino contributed a 1-for-3 effort with one run and Cole Reynolds went 1-for-4. 

THE RUNDOWN
JMU jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the first inning. Trevon Dabney drew a leadoff walk before Chase DeLauter connected on the first pitch he saw for a two-run blast to right field. Later in the inning, a single to left plated two more runs. Elon broke through in the third as Justin Cassella came around on an Iadisernia triple to straightaway center, but the hosts answered with another run in the home half of the frame.
 
With one away in the fourth, Haskin singled down the left-field line and took second on a Vergantino hit back up the middle. Coolahan then drove in Haskin with a base knock through the right side before Granatell cut the deficit to 5-3 with an RBI single to short. The Dukes (15-10, 3-1) responded though with a three-run bottom of the sixth. A bases-loaded single to right scored two runs and a sacrifice fly to left made it an 8-3 JMU lead.
 
The Dukes looked to add some more insurance in the seventh with one out and runners on the corners, but the Phoenix turned a 4-6-3 double play to get out of the jam. Coolahan led off the ninth with a double to right and came around on an Iadisernia double down the left-field line, but JMU recorded the third out to end the game.
 
NOTES
- Elon's lead in the all-time series now stands at 14-4.
- The loss snaps a five-game win streak by the Phoenix in the series.
- Bauer made his first appearance of the season.
- This was the 10th multi-hit game of the season for Iadisernia and the third time he's collected three hits. It was also his sixth multi-RBI performance.
- It was the fifth multi-hit outing for Granatell and the fourth for Coolahan.
- Elon turned one double play in the game and is up to 27 on the season. The Phoenix has also turned at least one double play in 12 of the last 13 games.
- The Phoenix hit 10-for-36 (.278) in the game, 4-for-12 (.333) with two outs, 5-for-21 (.238) with runners on and 4-for-13 (.308) with runners in scoring position.
- Elon tallied double-digit hits for the ninth time this season.

UP NEXT
Elon and JMU return for Game Two the series tomorrow with first pitch scheduled for 4 p.m.