ELON, N.C. – William & Mary scored four runs in the top of the ninth and Elon University baseball dropped the CAA series opener 9-6 on Thursday night, May 19 at Latham Park. The Phoenix falls to 25-24 overall and 9-12 in conference play with the loss.

ON THE MOUND
Ben Simon (3-1) was charged with the loss after giving up four runs on three hits and one walk. He recorded three strikeouts in one complete inning of work. Brian Edgington was tagged for three unearned runs on five hits and one walk, adding two strikeouts to his totals in a five-inning start. Trevork Kirk allowed two runs on four hits through 0.2 innings in relief and Liam Dabagian tossed 2.1 scoreless frames while fanning a pair.

AT THE PLATE
Luke Stephenson hit a grand slam and finished 1-for-3 on the evening. He was also hit by pitch twice. Justin Cassella (1-for-4) contributed a two-run home run and also walked once. Parker Haskin doubled, scored once and earned a base on balls in a 1-for-3 outing. Charlie Granatell and Cole Reynolds both batted 1-for-3 with two walks each, Alex Iadisernia hit 1-for-4 with a run and a walk, and Carlos Marte also went 1-for-4 with a run scored.

THE RUNDOWN
Neither side could break through until the third inning when the Tribe (24-21, 12-10 CAA) pushed across two runs on two hits and two errors. With one out and runners on the corners, Matt Thomas drove in a run with an RBI fielder's choice. A failed pickoff attempt then allowed Thomas to score from first for the 2-0 lead. However, Elon responded in the bottom of the inning as Marte singled to center field before Connor Coolahan and Iadisernia drew back-to-back walks to load the bases. Stephenson then drove in four runs with one swing of the bat as he connected on a 1-0 pitch.

The Phoenix added some insurance with another two runs in the fourth courtesy of a Cassella two-run homer to the right corner. W&M got a run back in the fifth as Lucas Carmichael tagged up on a Cole Ragone sacrifice fly to center field. The visitors then got cut the Elon lead to 6-5 with another two runs in the sixth. With two outs, W&M hit three-straight singles to run the bags full. Thomas then picked up two more RBIs with a base knock to right.

Elon retired the Tribe in order in the seventh and eighth innings, but could not escape the top of the ninth. After Simon struck out Carmichael to start the inning, Thomas doubled to center field and represented the tying run. Simon got another Tribe batter to chase a 3-2 pitch for the second out, but Thomas took third on a wild pitch. Ragone walked to place runners on the corners and David Hogarth brought home Thomas with an RBI single to left center, knotting the game at 6-6. With runners on first and second, Jack Cone then belted a 1-1 offering to right center to give the Tribe its first lead at 9-6.

Stephenson was hit by a pitch with one out in the bottom of the ninth, but was erased on a Granatell fielder's choice. After Reynolds worked a 3-2 count to place runners on first and second, Samuel Frontino came to the plate representing the tying run. However, he hit a ground ball back to the W&M pitcher, who flipped over to first to end the game.
 
NOTES
- Elon's lead in the all-time series now stands at 20-15.
- Stephenson's grand slam was the second the Phoenix has hit this week. Granatell had one in the bottom of the first of Sunday's win over Towson.
- Stephenson's home run marked his 11th of the season and 18th of his career. He leads the team and is tied for third in the CAA.
- The Phoenix batted .212 (7-for-33) in the game, to include .250 (3-for-12) with two outs, .158 (3-for-19) with runners on and .200 (2-for-10) with runners in scoring position.
- Elon left 10 runners on base.
- Elon pitchers combined to throw 95-of-138 (68.8 percent) pitches for strikes.

UP NEXT
The teams are back at Latham Park tomorrow for Game Two in the series. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.