Freshman Justin Mitrovich tossed a career high seven innings while striking out eight Delaware batters in the Elon's sweep clinching win on Sunday afternoon. The Elon Phoenix (16-8, 8-1) completed their second conference weekend series sweep in a row defeating the Delaware Blue Hens (9-14, 2-4).
 
Mitrovich set career highs on Sunday for innings, number of pitches and strikeouts during Sunday's win. The Phoenix pitching staff allowed just two hits with Spencer Bauer and Ben Simon coming out of the bullpen to earn the hold and the save respectively.
 
The Phoenix bats gathered seven hits and stayed hot during the series, averaging seven runs per game during the series. Both Charlie Granatell and Connor Offshack delivered in the seventh inning with Granatell doubling down the line and Offshack bringing him home for the game's only run.
 
The Phoenix have won eight consecutive conference games, the most in a row since the 2019 season. Elon now also sits at the top of the CAA standings following three weekends and is a game ahead of both the College of Charleston and UNCW.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 

• Both starting pitchers would settle in after some early trouble to start the ballgame. Mitrovich would surrender a hit to Joey Loynd and Chris Grome would surrender a pair of hits to Granatell and Offshack but both would get out of their jams.
• Justin Mitrovich would then begin to take control on the mound, at one point retiring 14 straight Blue Hens and would not surrender a hit until the sixth inning.
• Following two innings of work Tyler Strechay would begin to settle down the Phoenix bats by striking out Offshack and Granatell and getting out of a jam by forcing a pop out from Luke Stephenson.
• Strechay would find some trouble in the fourth as the bottom of the lineup for Elon would produce baserunners with a chance to strike. With runners on second and third, Charlie Granatell sent a rocket down the third base line, but Joey Loynd made a fantastic play to get Granatell by a step at first base and keep the score at 0-0.
• Neither team would do any damage until the seventh inning when the two bats at the top of the lineup did the deciding damage. Following one-out double by Charlie Granatell, Connor Offshack would send a single back up the middle that would score the sophomore from second base.
• That would be the last damage of the ballgame as Spencer Bauer and Ben Simon sent the Blue Hens back to the dugout in the eighth and ninth in order to give Elon the 1-0 win.

 
NOTES AND STATS
 

• With the Sunday victory, the Phoenix claimed their eighth straight conference victory and their second consecutive weekend sweep over a CAA opponent.
• Elon now has won eight consecutive games against the Delaware Blue Hens, their longest active streak against a CAA opponent.
• Over the last ten games for the Phoenix, they have outscored opponents 85-46 and that includes the Wake Forest loss on the road.
• Cole Reynolds extended his on-base streak to 17 games when he claimed a walk in the bottom of the third inning.
• Justin Cassella finished off his weekend with another 2-for-4 performance. Cassella over his last four games has batted 9-for-16 with a double, triple and two home runs. Justin also has the longest hitting streak on the squad, extending it to four straight games.
• Charlie Granatell claimed his eighth double of the season and his tenth multi-hit game of the season during Sunday's win over Delaware.
• Justin Mitrovich threw a career high 92 pitches over seven innings which is also a career high. The freshman also struck out eight batters which is the most for a single game in his career, topping his previous career high of seven strikeouts against Kentucky.
• Over the course of three games against the Blue Hens, Phoenix pitching walked just one batter while striking out 26.
• Sunday's shutout was the second of the season for the Phoenix and the fifth game of the year where they have allowed one run or less.
• The last time Phoenix pitching allowed two hits over nine innings was back in 2019 when the Phoenix two hit Towson in a strong seven inning performance by Kyle Brnovich.
• Ben Simon recorded his fourth save of the season and the sixth of his career.
• Connor Offshack recorded his first career stolen base in the seventh inning.
• With a single back up the middle Ryan Sprock extended his hitting streak to three straight games.

 
UP NEXT
 

• The Phoenix will host the USC-Upstate Spartans on Tuesday at 6 p.m. The next weekend series for Elon will feature the Phoenix on the road against the Towson Tigers this upcoming weekend.