Elon, N.C.- After two games against one another, Team Gold led by captains, Justin Mitrovich and Will Vergantino, will face off with Team Maroon led by captains Charlie Granatell and Alex Duffey, in a winner-take-all game three Friday.
 
The Elon baseball team kicked off their annual Fall World Series last Friday and Saturday with a pair of games, showcasing both old and new talent among the Phoenix roster.
 
Team Maroon took the first contest, 2-1 with great pitching from starter Mike Staiano and a game sealing, solo home run from newcomer Alec Welshans. Team Gold bounced back in game two as the teams combined for four home runs while Team Gold used a pair of big innings to pull away.
 
"Great energy and effort in both games 1 and 2. Both games very well played," said head coach Mike Kennedy. " Thrilled there will be a winner take all game three!"
 
Game One Recap – Welshans Homer, Strong Pitching Lifts Team Maroon To Game One Win
 

 

• Declan Lavelle got the start on the mound for Team Gold and used a first inning double play to get out of an early jam.
• Mike Staiano threw a three-up, three-down inning in the bottom of the first, retiring the first three batters.
• After Lavelle worked to the minimum in the second, Will Vergantino doubled to right center to put a man in scoring position. Staiano worked around the leadoff double, striking out the last two batters of the inning.
• Lawson Wheeler drove in the first run of the game for Team Maroon on a sacrifice fly after Vince Fattore worked his way into scoring position off a hit by pitch and a Henry Wolfe single.
• Staiano worked around another leadoff double from Brent Smith with Wolfe gunning down Smith at third, caught stealing.
• Team Maroon would add another run when Alec Welshans blasted a home run just inside the left-field foul pole to double the Maroon lead.
• Team Maroon turned to the bullpen with Carson Wehner striking out Charlie Evans to end the fourth inning. Neither team would score until Team Gold got on the board with a Vergantino sacrifice fly, scoring Jackson Alford.
• Ryan Sprock came in for the save in the seventh inning and slammed the door, striking out the side and giving Team Maroon the game one win.

 
 
Game Two Recap- Team Gold Uses Big Innings To Take Game Two Of Fall World Series
 

 

• Nolan Straniero got the start for Team Maroon and quickly took control of the game for Team Maroon on the mound. Straniero sat Team Gold down three up, three down in the first two frames and retiring the first seven batters he faced.
• Hank Krift got the ball for Team Gold and used two double plays to get out of the first two frames.
• Team Maroon struck first when Ryan Sprock launched a ball just shy of 400 feet to straight away center field to grab a 2-0 lead.
• Maroon tacked on another run in the bottom of the fifth when three straight hits from Lawson Wheeler, Kenny Mallory Jr. and Charlie Granatell. Granatell's double put runners on second and third with no outs. Owen Winebarger stepped up for Team Gold forcing a lineout and then picking off Mallory Jr. at third to limit the Maroon damage.
• Using the momentum, Team Gold would tie up the score with a three-run sixth inning. Jackson Alford and Will Vergantino both laced home runs to left field to get two runs back before Brent Smith tied the score with an RBI single through the right side to score Nathan Wingenroth from second base.
• Team Maroon grabbed the lead back when Vince Fattore joined the home run party with a solo shot of his own to help Team Maroon take a 4-3 lead heading into the final three innings.
• The top of the lineup for Team Gold continued to produce with Alford, Tank Yaghoubi and Vergantino all reaching and scoring in the top of the seventh inning. Nathan Wingenroth grabbed the lead for Team Gold with an RBI single before Smith doubled down the left field line to score a pair of runs for Team Gold and grab a 7-4 lead.
• Lawson Wheeler walked in the bottom of the eighth with the bases loaded to pick up another RBI to bring the score to 7-5. Cade Mustard entered the game with the bases loaded and two outs and struck out Kenny Mallory Jr. to limit the damage in the inning.
• Mustard would shut the door in the ninth, striking out Alec Welshans with two outs to even up the Fall World Series and one game apiece.