ELON, N.C. – Luke Stephenson hit two home runs and Elon University baseball earned a 5-1 win over High Point on Tuesday night, April 19 at Latham Park.

"Played a solid game today," said head coach Mike Kennedy. "Luke came up big for us offensively and I thought we made some nice plays to help keep and allow us to extend the lead."

ON THE MOUND
Starter Cam Seguin (2-1) picked up the win after holding the Panthers (12-25) to the one run on five hits. The left-handed hurler out of Woburn, Mass. tallied four strikeouts and didn't walk a batter in 4.2 innings pitched. Ben Sieracki, Ian Evans, Trevor Kirk and Kyle Greenler all made appearances in relief.

"Really competed well on the mound and pounded the zone all night," added Kennedy. "Cam was very good in his first start. I like where he is and how he is competing on the mound for us."

AT THE PLATE
Stephenson had a perfect night at the plate, batting 3-for-3 with three runs scored and three RBIs. Will Vergantino drove in one run and contributed a 2-for-4 effort, and Charlie Granatell, Justin Cassella and Cole Reynolds each hit 1-for-4. Reynolds doubled and picked up an RBI while Granatell scored one run.

THE RUNDOWN
HPU looked like it might set the tone early as a leadoff double, single up the middle and a sacrifice fly to left gave the visitors the early 1-0 lead. However, the Phoenix (18-18) pulled even in the bottom of the second as Stephenson led of the frame with a solo blast to left field. Elon then took a 2-1 lead in the fourth as Stephenson singled to right, took second on a Cassella hit to the gap in left and came around on a Reynolds double to center field.

Connor Coolahan and Stephenson were both hit by pitches to put runners on first and second with two outs in the fifth. HPU made a call to the pen and Vergantino greeted the new hurler with an RBI single back up the middle, pushing the lead to 3-1. The Panthers hoped to get back a run in the top of the sixth following a double to left center and a sac bunt to third. Sieracki was able to strike out the next batter though and Evans induced a fly out to center field to get out of the frame unscathed.

Elon rounded out the scoring in the bottom of the seventh. Granatell started off the frame with a single up the middle, moved up to second on a Coolahan sac bunt and took third on an Alex Iadisernia ground out to third. Stephenson then hit the first pitch he saw off the scoreboard in left center for two more runs. HPU left runners on first and second in the eighth and then went down in order in the ninth.
 
NOTES
- Elon now leads the all-time series 130-88. It was also Elon's third-straight victory over the Panthers.
- This was Seguin's first start as a Phoenix.
- It was Seguin's most innings thrown since he made six straight starts with at least six innings tossed from April 17-May 21 last season with UMass Lowell.
- Three of Stephenson's four hits in the home-and-home series were for extra bases. He doubled in the March 29 meeting at Truist Point.
- Elon pitchers recorded double-digit strikeouts for the 12th time this season.
- While he may not have recorded an at bat, Coolahan drew two walks, was hit by a pitch and put down a sacrifice bunt. He also scored one run.
- Elon held HPU to a .212 (7-for-33) clip on the night, including .167 (2-for-12) with runners on.
- The Phoenix hit .267 (8-for-30) for the game and .375 (3-for-8) with runners in scoring position.
- Seguin and company threw 91-of-130 (70.0 percent) of their pitches for strikes.

UP NEXT
Elon returns to conference play this weekend as the Phoenix hosts CAA foe College of Charleston for three games.