Raleigh, N.C. - The Elon University baseball team (10-7) extended its win streak to three games, taking down the North Carolina State Wolfpack (14-3) in Raleigh for the first time since 2011. The Phoenix offense came alive early, scoring 10 runs in the first two innings, and never looked back. Elon launched three home runs and battered NC State pitching with 13 hits, the most given up by NC State this season.
 
Ryan Sprock and Justin Cassella used the big fly to push the Phoenix ahead early. Cassella's grand slam blew the game open, as Elon opened up a 10-run lead following the blast.
 
James Broderick also homered and finished the day 3-for-3 at the plate with two walks. Broderick scored two runs, drove in another, and was perfect in the infield at the shortstop position.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Phoenix exploded for five runs in the first inning, jumping on hurler Jacob Halford from the start.
• Following two walks to start the day, Connor Offshack blooped a single that loaded the bases with no one out. Following a wild pitch that scored Charlie Granatell and a Luke Stephenson strikeout, freshman Ryan Sprock launched a blast off the light pole in left center field for a three-run home run.
• Elon sent 11 batters to the plate in the first inning, adding a fifth run on a Charlie Granatell RBI walk.
• Elon answered the five-run first inning with five more runs in the second inning before NC State even recorded an out. Following a pitching change in which Carson Kelly relieved Harford, the Phoenix put up a five-spot.
• Offshack and Stephenson began the inning with a single and a double respectively, Sprock drew a walk and an infield single by Tanner Holliman moved everyone up 90 feet, scoring Offshack.
• On the first pitch that he saw in his second at-bat, Justin Cassella launched a towering fly ball over the left field wall, clearing Elon's bullpen and giving the Phoenix a commanding 10-0 lead following the junior's grand slam.
• Elon would claim another run on a Ryan Sprock sacrifice fly when Stephenson scored all the way from second base as the NC State outfielder lost track of the outs and thought the inning was over. 
• NC State would get on the board for the first time in the bottom of the third inning when Will Marcy stepped up to the plate and launched a solo home run to give the Wolfpack their first run.
• James Broderick answered Marcy's solo shot with a one-run blast of his own to restore Elon's 11-run lead.
• The Wolfpack added three more runs to chop into the Elon lead. LuJames Groover III would single to score two runs and then another single by Trevor Candelaria plated another.
• NC State would use two more home runs to pull within six, following back-to-back solo blasts by Noah Soles and Parker Nolan.
• The score would remain unchanged until the top of the ninth when Cassella scored on a wild pitch and Granatell scored on a fielder's choice to give Elon their final run of the game.
• This is Elon's first win against NC State since 2015 and Elon's first win in Raleigh since 2011.

NOTES AND STATS

• This is Elon's first win over NC State since the Phoenix defeated the Wolfpack at Latham Park in 2015 by a score of 7-5.
• The last time the Phoenix won in Raleigh was the rubber match of a 2011 three-game series with the Wolfpack, when the Phoenix pulled it out by a tally of 4-2.
• Elon defeated NC State as a ranked team for just the second time. The first time the Phoenix beat a ranked NC State was back in 2013 when the Wolfpack were ranked No. 8 at the time.
• Elon's 13 hits were the second most for the Phoenix this season and Elon's 14 runs matched a season high.
• The Phoenix, on the season, is now 2-2 against Power Five opponents and 1-0 record against ACC competition.
• Elon produced 11 RBI, which is a season high, and three home runs, which matched a season high.
• During the last three games, the Phoenix has clubbed eight total home runs and has hit multiple home runs in each of those contests.
• Ryan Sprock hit his second home run of the season and drove in a Phoenix season-high four runs.
• Luke Stephenson roped two doubles, which is also a Phoenix season high. Stephenson now leads the team with five doubles on the year.
• Spencer Bauer threw two strong innings out of the bullpen to stop any advances from NC State. Bauer has now thrown over 11 innings on the season and has not allowed an earned run.
• With his RBI single, Tanner Holliman joined Stephenson and Cole Reynolds as the only Phoenix with more than 10 RBI.
• Elon picked up its first win against NC State since 2015 and stopped a five-game losing streak against the Wolfpack.
• Elon scored 14 runs against a team ranked in the top 25 for the first time since defeating then-No. 22 UNCW 14-3 on April 24, 2015.

 
UP NEXT

• The Phoenix will head to Monmouth to take on the Hawks for the team's first CAA road series of the season. Elon will complete their five game road trip at Wake Forest next Tuesday.
• Elon is one of five teams tied atop the CAA standings with a 2-1 conference record. Monmouth is one of five teams at 1-2.