Elon, N.C. - The Elon University baseball team (2-2) will return to Latham Park to take on the Akron Zips (2-2) in the Phoenix's second home weekend series of the season. Thursday's game is scheduled for a 4 p.m. first pitch followed by a 2 pm start on Saturday. Sunday's finale will start at 1 p.m.
 
HOW TO FOLLOW

• The series will be streamed  on FloSports which can be viewed by CLICKING HERE
• Live stats will be available for all three games of the series and can be reached by CLICKING HERE

TICKET INFORMATION

• Season tickets are available for $60, securing the same reserved, chair-back seat for all 31 regular-season games at Latham Park.
• To order season tickets, visit ElonTickets.com or call the Elon Ticket Office at 336-278-6750.

THE ALL-TIME SERIES

• Elon has a 3-0 record all-time against Akron
• The first matchup between the two schools came in 1948 when Elon defeated Akron 12-8.
• The last meeting between the Phoenix and the Zips came in February of 2012 when Elon defeated Akron 7-1 at Latham Park. Pitcher Kyle Webb carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning and Sebastian Gonzalez hit a grand slam and drove in five runs in the victory.

 
SCOUTING AKRON

• Akron is predicted to finish 11^th in the MAC behind favorites Ball State, Central Michigan, and Kent State. Toledo was picked to finish fourth; Elon took two games in a three-game set against the Rockets last season.
• The Zips are coming off of a four-game series with the Western Carolina Catamounts on the road in Cullowhee, N.C. The Zips and Catamounts would finish the series with two wins each with Akron taking the Friday and Sunday games. Western Carolina took both games of the Saturday doubleheader.
• Redshirt junior Jack Firestone led the Zips offensive attack during the four-game set. He finished his weekend in Cullowhee 7-for-15, with seven runs scored, 3 home runs, and a triple, all of which are tops in the MAC after the first weekend.
• Sophomore Ian Pennington finished his weekend 6-of-15 at the plate, concluding the weekend with a .400 average. Pennington tallied six hits, four of which were for extra bases. He accounted for two doubles, one triple and a home run. The sophomore is the Zips' RBI leader after the first week with six.
• Freshman Joe Roth paced the Zips on the mound during his first start of his college career. Roth pitched five innings of no-run ball, surrendering just two hits and striking out six Catamounts.

 
ABOUT THE PHOENIX

• Elon is coming off a 7-5 victory over the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs Tuesday in Elon's first road game of the season.
• Junior Cole Reynolds made an impact on the mound and in the batter's box, where he pitched five innings of one run ball and after moving to first base, clubbed a three-run home run that would turn out to be the deciding factor after giving the Phoenix a 7-1 lead.
• Kenny Mallory Jr. contributed his second multi-hit game of the season, singling home a run then hitting a ground-rule double. Mallory Jr. currently leads the team in runs scored, which is a stat that his father, Kenny Mallory Sr., led Elon in during the 1992 season.
• Freshman Ryan Sprock joined transfer Tanner Holliman as the second Phoenix player in a week to hit a home run on his first Phoenix hit. Sprock would finish the game with Gardner-Webb 1-for-1 with two walks.
• Ben Simon secured his second save of the season for Elon, recording the final four outs and matching his saves total from a year ago.
• Spencer Bauer made his first appearance out of the bullpen for the Phoenix, where he threw two innings of one-hit ball and struck out two Runnin' Bulldogs.
• Elon took on Kentucky in their most recent weekend series, taking the first game in a 2-0 shutout of the Wildcats led by Friday starter Shea Sprague.

 
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 to Latham Park on Tuesday for the first game of a home and home set with the UNCG Spartans. First pitch time will be 4 p.m. Elon and UNCG will play Wednesday in Greensboro with that game also starting at 4 p.m.