Elon, N.C.- Junior Justin Cassella tallied two home runs and a double in the Phoenix loss to Stony Brook on Sunday. The Elon Phoenix (24-15, 13-7 CAA) dropped their first home CAA series of the season to Stony Brook (15-22, 7-11 CAA) following a game three defeat by the score of 8-5.  
 
The Phoenix got great production from the bottom two batters in Justin Cassella and James Broderick. The previously mentioned Cassella finished 3-for-4 and Broderick finished the day batting 2-for-4 with an RBI.
 
Joe Savino and Liam Dabagian both gave strong performances out of the bullpen with Savino eventually picking up the loss despite setting a season high with six punchouts.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• For the second time in the series with the Sea Wolves, Stony Brook jumped on the Phoenix early. Evan Giordano would launch a full count fastball over the left field wall to give Stony Brook a 1-0 lead in the top of the first.
• Stony Brook would add two more runs in the top of the second with an RBI double from Evan Fox then an RBI single from Shane Paradine following an intentional walk to Evan Giordano.
• Elon would get back one of those runs in the bottom of the third when Justin Cassella hit the first of his two homeruns. Elon would put two runners on but a fine defensive play from the Sea Wolves would double off the Phoenix to end the threat.
• Joe Savino would enter the game in the top of the third and would begin to settle in during the bottom of the fourth. Savino would strikeout the side, retiring Wright, Fox and Giordano in order.
• The Phoenix would strand the bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth following two walks and a Connor Offshack infield single.
• Savino would continue to deal, adding two more strikeouts to his total in the top of the sixth inning.
• Elon would pile on three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Tanner Holliman would reach on a fielder's choice that would score Charlie Granatell from third. Justin Cassella would then register his second hit of the ballgame with a double to deep left field that would score Holliman all the way from first. Broderick would ground out to short, which scored Cassella from third and Elon would have their first lead.
• Stony Brook would answer Elon's attack with four runs of their own in the top of the seventh. Four runs on five hits would be the final tally. Evan Giordano gave the Sea Wolves the lead following an RBI double that would score both Wright and Fox. Shane Paradine and Derek Yalon would both single home a run later in the inning off Liam Dabagian to give the Sea Wolves a three-run cushion.
• Matt Brown-Eiring would give the Sea Wolves another insurance run in the top of the eighth inning after he singled home Evan Giordano.
• Cassella would continue his fine afternoon in the bottom of the eighth to get the run back on a solo home run to straight away center field.
• Entering the ninth down three, a leadoff single from Cole Reynolds gave the Phoenix life, but Quinlan Montgomery would hold down the attack and earn his first save.

NOTES AND STATS

• The loss to Stony Brook means that the Phoenix have lost consecutive CAA weekend series for the first time this season. The last time the Phoenix lost consecutive CAA series was over a year ago when Elon dropped two straight series to Northeastern and Charleston.
• This is the first home weekend series loss for the Phoenix since they dropped the opening series of the season to Kentucky.
• Justin Cassella now paces the Phoenix in home runs on the season. Cassella now leads the club with ten, taking the top spot from Tanner Holliman would has nine bombs.
• Cassella's two home runs in a game tie a season high for homers in a game. Two other Phoenix have homered twice in a game this season as Tanner Holliman clubbed two against Northeastern and Ryan Sprock launched two against Monmouth. 
• Cassella also finished the week with five home runs in four games and has homered in the last four games. The three hits in Sunday's game are also a season high for the junior.
• James Broderick finished the series with four hits, collecting two on both Friday and Saturday. This has tied season high for hits in a weekend series for Broderick, as he collected four hits in the series with Monmouth.
• Connor Offshack was put back into the starting lineup for the remaining two games of the series and collected at least one hit in both games. He finished Sunday's matchup 2-for-5 with two singles.
• Joe Savino finished the day with six strikeouts and no walks, both of which are season highs. Savino's 51 strikeouts match his total from last season and gives him over 170 strikeouts during his Phoenix career.
• Liam Dabagian gave Elon three good innings out of the bullpen. He surrendered one earned run over the three innings which keeps his ERA for the season at 1.30.
• Elon is now 1-3 all-time against the Stony Brook Sea Wolves and sits fourth in the CAA with a 13-7 conference record.

 
UP NEXT
 

• The Phoenix will return to Latham Park for a midweek contest with the No.11 Campbell Fighting Camels. Elon will then hit the road for a crucial CAA weekend series with the College of Charleston Cougars at Patriot's Point.