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Luke Stephenson
Jacob Kisamore

Baseball by Gray Aust, Athletic Communications Assistant

Elon Baseball heads to Gardner-Webb for Mid-Week Clash

Elon, N.C. - The Elon University baseball team (1-2) will make the trip to Boiling Springs, N.C. for a mid-week showdown with the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs (1-3) at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, February 21.
 
HOW TO FOLLOW
  • Fans will be able to follow along with live stats by CLICKING HERE
  • Live updates will be available on Twitter @ElonBaseball
 
THE ALL-TIME SERIES
  • Elon leads the all-time series with the Gardner-Webb 38-19 
  • The two teams first began playing in 1970 in a game that ended 6-1 in favor of GWU
  • Dating back to the mid-1990s, Elon has won 10 of the last 12 meetings, including the teams' last matchup on March 2, 2014. The Phoenix won that matchup with Gardner-Webb 5-0, thanks in large part to a complete game, three hit shutout by pitcher Jake Stalzer.

SCOUTING GARDNER-WEBB
  • Gardner-Webb is picked to finish fourth in the preseason Big South poll behind the preseason favorite Campbell, as well as USC-Upstate and High Point.
  • The Runnin' Bulldogs are coming off a 3-1 series loss to the Rider Broncs. G-W took game one of the series but fell in three straight games including both games of the doubleheader on Saturday.
  • Sophomore Mark Black finished the four-game set hitting .417. The Wake Forest transfer also finished the series with an on-base percentage of .563 drawing three additional walks and being hit by a pitch to compliment his five hits.
  • Junior Peter Capobianco tallied the lone home run for the Runnin' Bulldogs in the series during their 7-3 loss in game two of the doubleheader on Saturday.
  • Jim Chester leads the Runnin' Bulldogs in his third season at the helm.
  • Garnder-Webb is coming off a season where they finished 24-36 in 2022 and placed sixth in the Big South with an 11-13 conference record.
 
ABOUT THE PHOENIX
  • The Phoenix are coming off a series loss to the Kentucky Wildcats. The Phoenix, led by sophomore starter Shea Sprague, shut out the Wildcats in the season opener on Friday.
  • This was the first shutout win for the Phoenix over a current SEC program since 1916, when Elon defeated South Carolina 6-0 on May 1, 1916.
  • Vanderbilt transfer Kenny Mallory Jr. finished the series with the Wildcats leading the Phoenix in hits, finishing 3-of-11 and tallying an on-base percentage of .333.
  • Tanner Holliman recorded his first Phoenix home run in his first at bat in an Elon uniform after transferring from Northern Oklahoma College this season. Holliman also recorded a stolen base in the series.
  • Junior Cole Reynolds also contributed three hits during the series including a double in the ninth inning in game three of the series.
  • The Phoenix turned to three underclassmen to start all three games on the hill. Sophomore Shea Sprague, freshman Justin Mitrovich and freshman Ryan Sprock all toed the rubber to start against the SEC foe.
  • Sprague finished game one with six innings of no-run ball and a WHIP of just 1.00. He struck out four batters and only surrendered four hits which were all singles.
  • Justin Mitrovich started his first career game for the maroon & gold and sat down seven Wildcats on strikes. This was the most by a Phoenix freshman since Ben Simon struck out seven VCU Rams in Feb. of 2021.
  • Freshman Ryan Sprock saw action both in the field and on the mound. Along with starting game three on the rubber, Sprock started game two at third base. On the hill, Sprock struck out six Wildcats in four innings pitched and surrendered only three hits.

CAA HONORS
  • Shea Sprague was named CAA Co-Pitcher of the Week Monday for his performance in Elon's opening day win over Kentucky.
  • Sprague pitching six shutout innings, allowing just four singles, as Elon defeated Kentucky 2-0. Sprague struck out three batters, picked two off, and forced a pair of double plays.

PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE
  • Elon pitcher Shea Sprague and outfielder/catcher Luke Stephenson were named to the preseason All-CAA team.
  • Sprague was one of five pitchers named to the team, while Stephenson earned the designated hitter nod on the team.
  • Sprague ranked in the top 76 nationally in ERA, WHIP, walks allowed per nine innings and hits allowed per nine innings a year ago. He was the CAA Co-Rookie of the Year in 2022.
  • Stephenson led the CAA with 15 home runs a year ago and ranked in the top seven in the CAA in total bases, slugging percentage and RBI.

UP NEXT
  • The Phoenix will return home to Latham Park this weekend to face the Akron Zips this Friday through Sunday. Tickets are available at ElonTickets.com or call the Elon Ticket Office at 336-278-6750.
-- ELON --
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Players Mentioned

Cole Reynolds

#37 Cole Reynolds

P/1B
6' 5"
Sophomore
L/L
Ben Simon

#15 Ben Simon

P
5' 11"
Sophomore
R/R
Shea Sprague

#23 Shea Sprague

P
6' 3"
Freshman
R/L
Luke Stephenson

#29 Luke Stephenson

OF/C
6' 1"
Redshirt Junior
R/R
Justin Mitrovich

#19 Justin Mitrovich

RHP
6' 3"
Freshman
R/R
Tanner Holliman

#1 Tanner Holliman

INF
5' 10"
Redshirt Junior
R/R
Kenny Mallory Jr.

#2 Kenny Mallory Jr.

OF
6' 3"
Sophomore
L/L
Ryan Sprock

#13 Ryan Sprock

INF/RHP
5' 10"
Freshman
R/R

Players Mentioned

Cole Reynolds

#37 Cole Reynolds

6' 5"
Sophomore
L/L
P/1B
Ben Simon

#15 Ben Simon

5' 11"
Sophomore
R/R
P
Shea Sprague

#23 Shea Sprague

6' 3"
Freshman
R/L
P
Luke Stephenson

#29 Luke Stephenson

6' 1"
Redshirt Junior
R/R
OF/C
Justin Mitrovich

#19 Justin Mitrovich

6' 3"
Freshman
R/R
RHP
Tanner Holliman

#1 Tanner Holliman

5' 10"
Redshirt Junior
R/R
INF
Kenny Mallory Jr.

#2 Kenny Mallory Jr.

6' 3"
Sophomore
L/L
OF
Ryan Sprock

#13 Ryan Sprock

5' 10"
Freshman
R/R
INF/RHP