Elon, N.C. – The Elon University baseball team scored nine runs in the first three innings to pull away in a 14-3 victory over Quinnipiac Saturday at Latham Park. With the win, Elon (6-5) has clinched the series victory over the Bobcats (4-5). The two teams will meet for the weekend finale Sunday at 1 p.m. at Latham Park.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Elon racked up a season-high 16 hits on the afternoon but Quinnipiac also helped the Phoenix get going with six errors on the day, including five over the first three innings.
• The Phoenix struck in the bottom of the first as Connor Offshack got a two-out infield single and then came all the way around on a Luke Stephenson single and two Quinnipiac errors on the same play.
• Elon broke it open with a six-run second that included six hits. Justin Cassella had a one-out bunt single and then Parker Haskin singled through the left side. Connor Coolahan drove Cassella in with an RBI single for a 2-0 lead.
• Charlie Granatell reached on a fielding error and both Haskin and Coolahan scored on the play for the 4-0 advantage.
• James Broderick then plated Granatell with an RBI single. After Connor Offshack doubled, Cole Reynolds drove both runners home with a single to make it 7-0.
• In the bottom of the third, Elon made it 9-0 as Haskin walked and Coolahan reached on an error on a sacrifice bunt attempt. Granatell hit a sacrifice fly and Broderick singled to push home two more runs.
• The scored remained 9-0 until the bottom of the fifth when Cassella and Haskin led off with back-to-back singles. Coolahan then had a sac fly for the 10-0 lead.
• Quinnipiac finally broke into the scoring column with a two-run homer in the sixth but Elon struck back with four runs in the bottom of the sixth.
• Broderick walked and scored on Luke Stephenson's double. Stephenson then scored on a Tanner Holliman RBI single before Cassella followed with a two-run bomb over the center field field.
• Quinnipiac scratched out one more run in the top of the eighth for the final scoring of the contest.

 
 

Touch 'em all Justin Cassella! #ElonBaseball #PhoenixRising pic.twitter.com/fCp57rX2Gl

— Elon Baseball (@ElonBaseball) March 4, 2023

STATS AND NOTES

• Elon's 14 runs are the Phoenix's first double-digit scoring effort of the season. Elon has not scored more than 14 runs since a 16-5 win over Delaware State in the 2020 season opener.
• Elon's 16 hits were also a season high. The Phoenix has not recorded more than 16 hits since posting 17 hits in a 17-4 win over William & Mary on May 18, 2018.
• Justin Cassella went 3-for-4 with three runs and two RBI, including his first home run of the season.
• Parker Haskin was also 3-for-4 and scored two runs.
• James Broderick, Connor Offshack and Luke Stephenson all had two hits each.
• Stephenson extended his hit streak to six games. He is 10-for-22 (.455) with two home runs and eight RBI during the stretch.
• Freshman Justin Mitrovich (1-2) earned his first collegiate win on the mound, starting and pitching 6.0 innings. He allowed four hits, two walks and two earned runs, striking out three.
• Joe Sprake pitched 1.0 inning of scoreless baseball, striking out one.
• Sam Nomura and Christa Garrelts split the ninth innings. Nomura struck out one in 2/3 of an inning and Garrelts pitched the final out.
• Elon did not commit an error in a game for the second time this year.
• With one stolen base Saturday, Elon is now 7-for-7 on stolen base attempts over the past four games.
• Elon has earned a weekend series victory for the second time in three weeks to open the 2023 season. It is the first time the Phoenix has won each of the first two games of the weekend set.

 
 

Most runs since 2020. Most hits since 2018. It equals a 14-3 win. #ElonBaseball #PhoenixRising pic.twitter.com/EX1rH3THPW

— Elon Baseball (@ElonBaseball) March 4, 2023

UP NEXT

• Elon closes the weekend series with Quinnipiac Sunday at 1 p.m.
• The Phoenix then hosts East Carolina Wednesday at 4 p.m. before opening CAA play at home next weekend by hosting Northeastern.