Box Score

Mt. Pleasant, S.C. - Parker Haskin had the first four-hit game of his career, including a two-run home run, as Elon staved off elimination at the CAA Tournament, defeating College of Charleston 10-5 Friday. Charleston's season comes to a close at 36-22, while Elon improves to 33-21 and will advance to play Saturday. 

Haskin hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the third to kickstart a five-run Elon outburst. Charleston rallied with three runs in the fifth but the Phoenix pulled away with another five-run frame in the seventh. Haskin added a two-out RBI single in that inning. James Broderick and Ryan Sprock had three hits apiece as Elon outhit Charleston 16-6 in the contest. 

Freshman pitcher Justin Mitrovich improved to 7-4 on the season, going 5.0 innings and striking out six batters. Joe Savino came on to pitch the final four innings, retiring the first nine batters and collecting his third save of the season. 

How It Happened

• Both Aidan Hunter and Justin Mitrovich would end their first inning of work allowing no hits while Mitrovich struck out a pair of Cougars.
• Elon and Charleston would collect hits in their respective second innings but no runs would come across to score.
• Following another blank inning tossed by Mitrovich, the Elon bats woke up at Patriot's Point and erupted.
• Following a James Broderick single, Parker Haskin lifted a ball down the right field line that would sail over the wall giving Haskin his second home run of the season and just the second overall home run in the CAA Tournament.
• Charlie Granatell and Justin Cassella followed the homer up with back-to-back singles then Ryan Sprock would join the party. The freshman lined a double down the right field line that would score both Granatell and Cassella giving Elon a four-run advantage.
• Connor Offshack would then step to the plate and line a sharp single past a diving Joseph Mershon into right field that would score Sprock and give the Phoenix a five-run advantage after three innings of play.
• Charleston would not go quietly. The Cougars began to get to Mitrovich, reaching on an error then drawing a walk to put two runners on base. With one out in the top of the fifth, Joseph Mershon laced a triple into the right field corner to score both runners. Mershon would score an at-bat later after a sacrifice fly from Cole Mathis.
• The Phoenix would have a big answer in the bottom of the seventh inning to shut the door on the Cougars. Elon would score five runs in the seventh, all with two outs to pull in front by seven runs. The first run came following a James Broderick triple on a deep fly ball just getting down beyond Trotter Harlan's glove. Parker Haskin would add his fourth hit of the day, scoring Broderick from third. Following a hit-by-pitch then walk, Ryan Sprock would step in the batter's box with the bases loaded and single back up the middle scoring two more runs.
• Connor Offshack would deliver another RBI single in the seventh, giving the Phoenix their second five-run inning of the game and increasing their lead to seven.
• Joe Savino would relieve Mitrovich and was lights out. Savino would retire the first nine batters he faced to thwart any attempt of a Cougar comeback.
• The Cougars would single home two runs in the top of the ninth inning, but the deficit proved to be too great as the Phoenix eliminated Charleston by the score of 10-5.

Notes and Stats

• This is Elon's first win of the 2023 CAA Tournament marking six straight conference tournaments where Elon has won at least one game.
• Elon and Charleston have now met seven times during their shared time in the CAA at the CAA Tournament with Elon taking the 2023 installment having lost the previous two in 2021 and 2022.
• The previous two matchups with the Cougars at the CAA Tournament had been games that ended Elon's run. Including last season where Charleston eliminated the Phoenix on their home turf, where this year Elon returns the favor.
• Parker Haskin tallied the first four-hit game of his Elon career in the win over Charleston. The backstop finished 4-for-6 driving in three runs.
• Ryan Sprock finished the day with three hits and four RBI. Both tallies tie a career high for the freshman, matching his three hits he claimed against East Carolina and matching his four RBI against NC State.
• James Broderick claimed his first triple of the year along with his sixth extra-base hit. Broderick ended a three-game hitless streak with three against the Cougars matching his Elon high that he set against NC State.
• Connor Offshack finished the day 2-for-4 in his first multi-hit performance since Elon's home matchup with High Point. The two RBI also tie a season high that was previously set against Delaware on March 24.
• Justin Mitrovich earned his seventh win of the season pitching five innings while surrendering just three hits. This marks the third time in four outings that Mitrovich has given up three hits or less.
• Joe Savino earned his third save of the season and now has 72 strikeouts on the season, the fourth most in the CAA. The Phoenix advance to the semi-finals for the first time since 2019 and will play for a spot in the final, looking to reach their first since 2019.

Up Next

• Elon will face the loser of the winner's bracket game between Northeastern and UNCW with the matchup with Elon deciding who plays in the championship game.