High Point, N.C.- The Elon Phoenix (22-10) claimed another victory over an in-state non-conference opponent following a 7-3 victory over the High Point Panthers (10-22) Tuesday night. The Phoenix combined for five runs in the final two frames to pull away from High Point to claim their fourth straight win over the Panthers.
 
Ryan Sprock led the Phoenix at the plate with a 2-for-4 performance including the go-ahead two-run home run in the top of the eighth inning to put Elon in front. Charlie Granatell finished with a multi-hit game, and Cole Reynolds extended his on-base streak to 25 games in the win.
 
Ben Sieracki, Liam Dabagian and Joe Savino shut down the Panthers in the final five innings, only surrendering one hit between the three. They combined for seven strikeouts with Dabagian earning the win and Savino earning the save.
 
This is Elon's fourth win of the season over a North Carolina out-of-conference opponent. A list that now features High Point, No.2 Wake Forest, No.23 NC State and Gardner-Webb.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Cole Reynolds got the start on the mound for the Phoenix, and he would limit the Panthers in the first inning surrendering a lone walk.
• High Point would get on the board first in the bottom of the second inning following an RBI single from Cole Singsank. This would be the only hit Reynolds would surrender in his start.
• Following a clean nine-up, nine-down through the Phoenix order, leadoff hitter Charlie Granatell launched a home run to left field to tie up the score and give Granatell his second homer of the season.
• The Phoenix would tack on another run in the inning following a sacrifice fly from Cole Reynolds to score Ryan Sprock following a Sprock double.
• The Panthers would answer with two runs of their own in the bottom of the fourth. Following a double from Adam Stuart, the Panthers picked up the tying run when Miggy Echazarreta singled in a pinch-hit appearance. High Point picked up another rule following a balk on Joe Sprake which scored Cole Singsank from third.
• Both bullpens would take control from innings five through seven with Elon pitching working to one more than the minimum and the Phoenix batting two just two hits over the two frames.
• Elon would get the spark they needed from freshman Ryan Sprock. After Charlie Granatell got the offense going with a two-out single, Sprock launched a home run to right center field that would give Elon the lead.
• Luke Stephenson would walk and be pinch ran for by Will Vergantino. Vergantino would swipe second and later come around to score on a Cole Reynolds RBI single.
• Elon would scrape across two more runs in the ninth inning with some heads-up base running from Justin Cassella and Kenny Mallory Jr. Following a James Broderick dropped third strike, Cassella made a break for the plate when Matthew Martinez II threw down to first. Cassella made it into home and due to the ball bouncing away from the catcher, Mallory Jr. was able to score from second on the play giving the Phoenix two more runs.
• Joe Savino would secure the save with a clean bottom of the ninth, striking out all three batters he faced and clinching a 7-3 victory for Elon.

NOTES AND STATS

• With the win on Tuesday, the Phoenix increases their win streak over High Point to four straight games and five out of the last six.
• Cole Reynolds made his sixth midweek start of the season and allowed a season low one hit in 3.1 innings pitched. Reynolds also matched a season high with four strikeouts and surrendered only one walk.
• Ben Sieracki has now surrendered two straight scoreless outings following his 1.2 innings against Wake Forest and two innings against High Point.
• Liam Dabagian earned his third win of the season and lowered his ERA to 1.21. Dabagian also lowered his WHIP to under one, joining Spencer Bauer as the only qualified Phoenix relievers with a WHIP under one.
• Joe Savino picked up his second save of the season and appeared in his 13^th game on the hill. Savino's 38 strikeouts are now third most on the team and places him in a tie at the top of the strikeout list amongst non-starters.
• Phoenix pitching struck out 11 batters, tied for their third highest clip of the season and fourth time they have finished one shy of a dozen in punchouts.
• Ryan Sprock launched his sixth home run of the season, breaking a five-way tie for second place on the team behind Tanner Holliman. Sprock knocked in two runs which tied him for the game high with Cole Reynolds. The freshman extended his hitting streak to 11 straight games.
• Cole Reynolds extended his consecutive games on-base streak to 25 straight games, the first Phoenix to hit the quarter-century mark since Alex Iadisernia in 2021.
• Charlie Granatell claimed his 12^th multi-hit game of the season, the most on the club. Granatell also picked up his second home run of the season and claimed his 22^nd RBI.
• Seven Phoenix collected a base hit including Tanner Holliman, Kenny Mallory Jr. and Luke Stephenson who each contributed a base knock.

UP NEXT

• The Phoenix will hit the road once again to hit the CAA weekend series trail. This weekend the Phoenix will battle with the William & Mary Tribe in a three-game series beginning on Friday with a first pitch time of 6 p.m. Following the series with the Tribe, Elon will return to Latham Park to take on the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs next Tuesday at 6 p.m.