Elon, N.C.- The Elon University baseball team (1-1) fell in game two of their season opening three-game set with the Kentucky Wildcats (1-1) Saturday, dropping a 5-1 decision. Phoenix pitching combined for 12 strikeouts on the afternoon with Justin Mitrovich, Joe Savino, Ethan Haislip and Joe Sprake all taking the mound for the Phoenix.  
 
True freshman Mitrovich led the Phoenix on the hill, finishing his day with seven strikeouts in just under five innings of work. Mitrovich's seven strikeouts were the most by an Elon freshman pitcher since Ben Simon's seven strikeouts against VCU on Feb. 27, 2021.
 
How it Happened:
 

• Kentucky struck first in the top half of the opening frame when Ryan Waldschmidt scored on a sacrifice bunt by Émilien Pitre. Justin Mitrovich would get out of the inning by forcing a ground out to Will Vergantino during the next at bat.
• Mitrovich would then retire six of his next seven batters, concluding with back-to-back swinging strikeouts in the top of the third.
• The freshman hurler would begin the fourth with another strikeout, giving him three consecutive K's and finished his fourth frame only surrendering two total hits to the first 12 Kentucky batters.  
• Joe Savino entered the game for the Phoenix in the top of the fifth inning and surrendered a two-run single to Devin Burkes, which gave the Wildcats a 3-0 lead.
• The Phoenix gained their first hit on the afternoon off Tyler Bosma, who had a perfect game going into the fifth inning, when Cole Reynolds singled into right field.
• Joe Savino and Parker Haskin would combine for a strike-em'-out-throw-em'-out double play in the top of the sixth to halt the Wildcat momentum. Joe Savino would end the frame by striking out Chase Stanke.
• The Phoenix began making solid contact on Bosma with Kenny Mallory Jr. claiming his third hit in the series with a single down the left-field line. He would be the first Phoenix to advance into scoring position after a failed pickoff attempt.
• Kentucky would put the Phoenix into a jam in the top of the seventh. The Wildcats loaded the bases with two outs, but Joe Savino went to his changeup and struck out Émilian Pitre to get out of the jam with no runs across in the inning.
• The Phoenix ran into some trouble in the eighth inning when UK plated two runs on an RBI sacrifice bunt by Isaiah Byars and an RBI single to right by Grant Smith.  
• Elon would counter in the bottom of the ninth when Mallory Jr. reached base for the second time on a walk, then Charlie Granatell responded with a double down the left field line off Austin Strickland. Mallory Jr. would later come around to score on a sacrifice fly by Luke Stephenson. The score would remain unchanged after the sacrifice and Kentucky would pull out the win, 5-1.

 
Stats and Notes

• Freshman Justin Mitrovich threw 78 pitches and faced 20 Kentucky batters in his collegiate debut. Mitrovich struck out seven batters over 4 2/3 innings.
• Joe Savino pitched 2 1/3 innings, walking two batters while striking out five Wildcats.
• Joe Sprake finished the 1 1/3 innings by facing the minimum, retiring four Kentucky hitters on 12 pitches.
• In the leadoff spot, Kenny Mallory Jr. reached base safely twice with a single in the bottom of the sixth and a walk in the bottom of the ninth.
• Charlie Granatell finished with the lone extra base hit with a double in the bottom of the ninth. Granatell finished 1-for-4.
• The other lone hit came from Cole Reynolds who ended the no-hit bid with a single in the bottom of the fifth.
• The game took 2 hours and 17 minutes to complete.
• Elon pitching's 12 strikeouts were the most by the staff in a game since Elon's 13, in a 2-1 extra inning win at UNC Wilmington on April 29, 2022.
• The 12 strikeouts were the most by the Phoenix in a nine-inning game since Elon pitching fanned 13 Pirates in a 7-1 loss to East Carolina last season.

 
Up Next:

• Elon looks to clinch the series victory against Kentucky in the series rubber match on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
• Following the weekend, Elon will play on the road at Gardner-Webb on Tuesday before hosting the Akron Zips in a three-game set next weekend.