Williamsburg, V.A.- The Elon Phoenix (23-12, 12-5 CAA) fell to the William & Mary Tribe (24-13, 9-6 CAA) for the second time in three games in walk off fashion. The Phoenix entered the ninth inning up a run but could not close the deal. This is just Elon's second weekend series loss of the season with the first coming against Kentucky in their first series of the season.
 
Both Tanner Holliman and Luke Stephenson powered the Phoenix offense. The pairing was responsible for all three runs Elon scored in Sunday's game. Holliman with a solo home run to tie the game in the fifth and Luke Stephenson with a two-run shot to give the Phoenix the lead in the seventh.
 
Ryan Sprock got the start for the Phoenix and surrendered just two runs. Sprock continued the series command for the Phoenix by surrendering just one walk in 6.1 innings. Liam Dabagian picked up 1.2 innings of scoreless relief for the Phoenix in the loss.
 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 

• The Phoenix offense was held quiet over the first two frames. Five of the first seven batters were retired via the strikeout from starter Nate Knowles.
• Ryan Sprock was just as dominant striking out batters in the first and second inning and getting out of a jam in the second by leaving two Tribe baserunners stranded.
• William & Mary began the bottom of the third with a base hit, but the runner was quickly put away following a double play started by Connor Coolahan at third base.
• The Tribe would score the first run of the game when Nate Goranson hit a solo home run to give the Tribe the lead.
• Elon would answer almost immediately when Tanner Holliman smacked a solo shot to left center field to tie up the ball game.
• After a quiet sixth inning from both teams, the Phoenix power bats came to the plate. Cole Reynolds led off with a ground rule double to put himself into scoring position for Luke Stephenson. Stephenson would launch a ball over the right center field fence to put two more runs on the board for the Phoenix, giving Elon a 3-1 lead.
• Ryan Sprock would allow the first two runners on and following a sacrifice bunt Liam Dabagian would take over on the hill. Dabagian forced a flyout but the runner from third would make it home with little trouble shortening the gap to one run.
• William & Mary would come to the plate down a run and facing Elon's closer Ben Simon. Simon would get the first two Tribe hitters out with a flyout and a lineout. Tank Yaghoubi would keep the rally going for the Tribe with his third hit and Cole Ragone would give William & Mary more hope with a double following the base hit. Corey Adams stepped to the plate with two runners in scoring position with two outs, and delivered a line drive base hit down the right field line scoring both runs. William & Mary claimed their second walk-off win in three days over the Phoenix.

 
NOTES AND STATS
 

• With the loss on Sunday, Elon drops to 12-5 in conference play. They now sit behind UNCW who has three games in hand on Elon following their weekend series with TCU.
• This is the second time on the weekend that Elon fell to William & Mary in walk off fashion.  
• During Elon's last three conference losses, they have all been one-run defeats and the Phoenix have had the lead in the eighth inning or later in every game.
• Cole Reynolds extended his on base streak to 28 consecutive games on base in the seventh inning of Sunday's game. This is tied for the fourth highest total for a Phoenix batter in the last five seasons. Reynolds now also leads the team in RBI with 30 and in batting average at .320.
• Tanner Holliman hit his ninth home run of the season against the Tribe on Sunday. Holliman has now hit six home runs during conference play giving him the most in the CAA since conference play began.
• Luke Stephenson extended his hitting streak to 11 straight games, giving him the team lead. Stephenson also launched the sixth homer of the season giving him 21 for his Elon career.  
• Liam Dabagian lowered his ERA to 1.09 and his WHIP now sits at .89 in 24.2 innings pitched. Dabagian only trails Spencer Bauer on the squad who possesses a .40 ERA.
• Elon lowered their ERA in conference play to 2.80 during the series, almost a full point ahead of second place. The Phoenix also claims the conference's top spot in strikeouts during conference play as well as the second fewest walks.
• Phoenix pitching has struck out 29 William & Mary hitters in the series with the Tribe this weekend while surrendering just six total walks.   

 
UP NEXT
 

• The Phoenix will return to Latham Park for a matchup with the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs on Wednesday at 6 p.m. Elon will continue their home stand this upcoming weekend against the Stony Brook Sea Wolves with a three-game CAA series.