Elon, N.C.- The Elon Phoenix (14-8, 6-1 CAA) used a first-inning knockout punch to take care of the Delaware Blue Hens (9-12, 2-2 CAA) on Friday night, 12-2, to earn their sixth straight conference win. This is the best start to CAA play for the Phoenix since 2019 when Elon also began their conference schedule 6-1.  
 
The Phoenix pitching staff continued to quiet CAA bats by limiting the Blue Hens to two runs and limiting their two top hitters, Bryce Greenly and Joey Loynd, to just 1-for-7 at the plate. Elon got another strong performance on the mound from Shea Sprague who picked up his fourth win on the season.  
 
Justin Cassella continued to swing a hot bat, finishing the day 2-for-4 with a first-inning grand slam that would put the Phoenix ahead for good. Cassella would add a triple to his tally in the third and finish the night with four RBI. Both Luke Stephenson and Connor Offshack would add to their home run totals as the Phoenix clubbed three homers as a team.
 
With UNCW splitting a double-header with Stony Brook earlier in the day, the Phoenix now have sole possession in first place of the CAA at 6-1.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Delaware struck first and struck hard when leadoff batter JJ Freeman took the second pitch of the ballgame and put it over the right field fence to give the Blue Hens an early 1-0 lead.
• Elon would respond in the bottom of the first with good at bats from Charlie Granatell, Kenny Mallory Jr. and Ryan Sprock that would load the bases.
• Cole Reynolds would give the Phoenix the lead after a two-run double would score both Granatell and Mallory Jr. Following a Tanner Holliman walk Justin Cassella took a first pitch fast ball and launched a no-doubt homerun over the high left field wall to give the Phoenix a five-run lead with one swing of the bat.
• Not to be outdone, the Phoenix's leading batter Connor Offshack would follow up the grand slam with a solo shot of his own to expand Elon's run tally in the inning to seven and their lead to six.
• Following opening inning scoring sprees, both Shea Sprague and reliever Joey Silan began to settle in for their clubs. Shea Sprague would not allow a run for the next four innings and would limit the Blue Hen batters to only singles and a lone double.
• The Phoenix would add to their lead in the bottom of the fifth when Connor Offshack secured a bases-loaded infield single to expand the Phoenix lead to seven. James Broderick would then bring home Cole Reynolds on a sacrifice fly to give the Phoenix another multi-run inning.
• The Blue Hens would get a run back with a trio of singles to score Josear Diaz in the top of the sixth, but Shea Sprague would strike out Brett Lesher with runners on second and third to end the Delaware threat.
• Luke Stephenson would get the Delaware run back and then some at the plate in the following half inning. After a lead double from Kenny Mallory Jr., the backstop would homer over the left field wall to expand Elon's lead to 11-2.
• Elon would get their final run of the night in the bottom of the eighth when Stephenson would ground out to the shortstop, scoring Kenny Mallory Jr. giving Elon a ten-run advantage.
• Reliever Joe Sprake would slam the door on the Blue Hens pitching a perfect final three innings, facing only nine batters, and retiring them all.

 
NOTES AND STATS
 

• With the Friday victory, the Phoenix have extended their winning streak to six games in CAA play, the longest streak in the conference.
• This is Elon's fourth straight conference game with at least 12 runs. The first Elon team to do that since Elon's NCAA Tournament team of 2009.
• With Elon scoring double-digit runs in four-straight conference games, the Phoenix join the 2010 as the last Elon team to accomplish that mark.
• Shea Sprague earned his fourth win on the mound, which ties him for the second most wins in the conference. Sprague has an ERA now of 2.17 and has struck out 32 batters while walking just seven.
• Elon's offense continues to strike early and often. Over Elon's last six games they have scored a combined 16 runs in the first inning alone.
• In Elon's last eight games they have collected 18 innings of multiple runs scored. In Elon's last six games, the Phoenix have score five or more runs in an inning seven different times.
• Luke Stephenson smashed his third home run of the season in Friday's game. Elon now has five players with at least three home runs.
• Cole Reynolds extended his on-base streak, he has now reached base safely in 15 straight games. Reynolds also extended his team-leading four game hitting streak against the Blue Hens.
• Justin Cassella hit his second grand slam of the season with the first coming against the NC State Wolfpack in the Phoenix' 14-6 win in Raleigh.
• The first inning was the Phoenix' highest scoring first frame of the season and the second most runs by the Phoenix in an inning this season only trailing their eight runs in an inning against Quinnipiac.
• In Elon's last five wins they are averaging just under 14 runs per game. The highest scoring output of that streak coming in the final game against Monmouth where Elon scored 18 runs.
• Since the back-to-back losses to UNCG, the Phoenix are 10-3 with loses only to Northeastern, nationally ranked East Carolina and nationally ranked Wake Forest.

 
UP NEXT
 

• The Phoenix will return to Latham Park looking to win the series on Saturday with first pitch being at 2 p.m. The final game of the series will take place on Sunday with first pitch at 1 p.m.