Elon, N.C.- The Elon Phoenix (15-8, 7-1 CAA) used four home runs to take down the Delaware Blue Hens (9-13, 2-3 CAA) on Saturday afternoon, 8-3, to earn their seventh straight conference win. This is the best start to a CAA campaign for the Phoenix during Elon's time in the Colonial Athletic Association.  
 
Ryan Sprock continues to perform on the mound for the Phoenix in his debut season. Sprock matched his career high by throwing six innings and striking out five. This is the third win of the season for the rookie, the most in the CAA among first-year players. Following his six innings on the mound, Sprock went to the field and clubbed a three-run home run at the plate to cap off his day.
 
Justin Cassella finished the day batting 3-for-4 along with his second home run in as many days and a stolen base. Luke Stephenson also clubbed his second home run of the series with a solo home run to open the scoring in the sixth, and Cole Reynolds smacked a homer to increase the Phoenix lead in the seventh.
 
The Phoenix now sit a game above the rest of the conference in the standings at 7-1 and possess a seven game conference winning streak and a four game winning streak at Latham Park.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 

• The day's matchup featured a duo of two-way players on the mound with Ryan Sprock taking the mound for the Phoenix and Bryce Greenly taking the mound for the Blue Hens.
• Both pitchers started the game off well by each throwing a clean first three innings with the Phoenix only collecting three hits off Greenly and Delaware capturing three hits off Sprock.
• Delaware would strike first against Elon, for the second time this series, in the top of the fourth inning. With two outs, the Blue Hen bats came alive with back-to-back singles placing runners on first and second. Aidan Kane would step up to the plate and launch a double over Justin Cassella's head in center field that would score two runs and give Delaware a two-run lead.
• The Phoenix would only account for one hit in the following two frames, that being from outfielder Charlie Granatell who registered his ninth multi-hit game of the season with a fifth inning double.
• Elon's offense would come alive in the sixth inning. A leadoff homerun from Luke Stephenson would get the Phoenix on the board. Following a Cole Reynolds hit by pitch, Justin Cassella would hit a home run to right to give the Phoenix their first lead of the day.
• Following a three-up, three-down inning from Joe Savino in the seventh, Elon would add to their lead in a big way. After a Luke Stephenson walk, Cole Reynolds would launch a two-run home run to center field, moving Elon's lead to three.
• This would not be the only home run for the Phoenix in the inning. After singles by Holliman and Cassella, Ryan Sprock clubbed a home run over the right field fence to give Elon an 8-2 cushion.
• Delaware would get a run back in the top of the ninth off Liam Dabagian, but that was all the Blue Hens could get as the Phoenix topped Delaware 8-3.

NOTES AND STATS
 

• With the Saturday victory, the Phoenix have extended their winning streak to seven games in CAA play, the longest streak in the conference.
• The Phoenix are off to their best start to conference play during their time in the CAA. The 7-1 start is tops for the Phoenix since entering the league and is the best start to a conference slate since Elon started 9-1 in 2012 while Elon was in the Southern Conference.
• This is Elon's fourth straight victory at Latham Park where in those four games they are outscoring opponents 26-to-9.
• With Elon's four home runs during Saturday's game, that gives the Phoenix a new season high for homers. It is the highest total in a game since Elon clubbed four in a game with Georgia Southern in 2021. The last time Elon hit more than four home runs in a game was during a 16-8 win against Towson in 2019 when the Phoenix hit five.  
• Ryan Sprock earned his third win on the mound, which ties him for the third most wins in the conference. Sprock has an ERA now of 2.18 and has struck out 36 batters while walking just nine. Sprock leads CAA freshman pitchers in wins, ERA, strikeouts, and innings pitched.
• With Ryan Sprock hitting his fifth home run of the season, Sprock leads all CAA freshman in homeruns with five and is second on the team behind Tanner Holliman.
• In Elon's last nine games they have collected 20 innings of multiple runs scored. Elon added two to that total today with three runs in the sixth and five runs in the seventh.
• Luke Stephenson smashed his fourth home run of the season in Friday's game giving him home runs in both games against Delaware this season.  
• Cole Reynolds extended his on-base streak, he has now reached base safely in 16 straight games. Reynolds also extended his team-leading five game hitting streak against the Blue Hens with a two-run home run.
• Justin Cassella hit his second home run in as many days and continues to hit the ball well. In Cassella's last three games he is 7-for-12 at the plate with a double, triple and two home runs. He has also scored five runs, driven in nine and swiped a bag.
• Elon added another five-run inning to their tally in the month of March. In Elon's last seven games the Phoenix have scored at least five runs in an inning eight different times.
• In Elon's last six wins they are averaging just under 13 runs per game. The highest scoring output of that streak coming in the final game against Monmouth where Elon scored 18 runs.
• Elon currently sits at No.22 in the nation in RPI with the 10^th hardest strength of schedule.
• Since the back-to-back losses to UNCG, the Phoenix are 11-3 with loses only to Northeastern, nationally ranked ECU and nationally ranked Wake Forest.

 
UP NEXT
 

• The Phoenix will return to Latham Park looking to complete the series sweep on Sunday with first pitch being at 1 p.m. Elon will return to Latham Park this Tuesday to battle USC Upstate at 6 p.m.