Elon, N.C.- Senior right-hander Ben Sieracki tossed the strongest outing of his Elon (3-4) career in a winning effort against NJIT (1-5) Sunday afternoon. Sieracki led the Phoenix out of the bullpen with five strong innings and allowing just one run in Elon's 12-7 win over the Highlanders.
 
Sieracki secured career highs in innings and strikeouts while allowing just a solo home run to stamp his name into the win column. Over the final five innings, Elon allowed just one run on four hits while walking none.
 
The Phoenix continued to put together strong at bats at the plate with five players claiming multi-hit games. Connor Offshack homered in a pinch-hit role off the bench while Ryan Sprock homered for the first time this season and drove in three runs on Sunday.
 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 

• Elon found itself in an early hole again following two second inning runs from NJIT.
• The Phoenix bounced back in the bottom half of the second and took their first lead of the game following a trio of runs. After a Vince Fattore walk and Will Vergantino hit by pitch, Justin Szestowicki would register the first hit for the Phoenix to load the bases. Fattore raced home on a passed ball to score then Tanner McCammon brought home a run on a sacrifice fly.
• Kenny Mallory Jr. singled to left and brought home another run to give Elon their first lead.
• The Highlanders found another crooked inning in the fourth when NJIT brought in four runs in the inning.
• In the bottom half of the inning, the Phoenix responded once again this time with the long ball. Following an Alex Duffey walk, Connor Offshack would pinch hit and take a 3-1 fastball over the left field wall to bring the Phoenix back within a run.
• Three batters later, Ryan Sprock would use another two-run home run to give the Phoenix the lead for good. Elon continued to move runners around with Vergantino singling a run home, then Alex Duffey returned the favor two batters later.
• Ben Sieracki would enter the game at the end of the fourth inning and make quick work of the Highlanders into the ninth inning. Sieracki gave up his only run in the sixth on a solo home run.
• In the fifth, Elon manufactured a run following heads up baserunning from Mallory Jr. The junior advanced to second after a walk in his own at-bat on a hit and run. He then stole third and came home on a sacrifice fly from Shane Paradine to increase the Phoenix lead.
• Elon added two insurance runs in the seventh inning after a sacrifice fly from Vergantino and a single from Szestowicki.
• Sieracki's outing made it all the way to two outs in the ninth inning before Sam Nomura came in to shut the door on the series, clinching the 12-7 victory for Elon.

 
NOTES AND STATS
 

• Nolan Straniero made his second start at Latham Park this season. Straniero went 3.2 innings while allowing just one unearned run while striking out two.
• Kenny Mallory Jr. collected his fifth straight multi-hit game, going 2-for-5 with two runs scored and two stolen bases.
• Ryan Sprock had his first home run of the season Sunday and finished with a team high three RBI. Sprock's RBI total on the season is now 13 which leads the club.
• Connor Offshack hit his third home run of the season which leads the club. Offshack finished 2-for-4 off the bench and joins Sprock and Charlie Granatell as the only players on the team with 10+ RBIs.
• Charlie Granatell finished with his first non-multi hit game of the season but extends his hitting streak to 11 games dating back to last season.
• The Phoenix have now had double-digit hits in every game so far this season.
• Ben Sieracki set career-highs in innings pitched (5) and strikeouts (6) in a game.
• Will Vergantino reached base safely ten straight times during the series with NJIT. Vergantino batted six-for-six in the final two games of the series and finished with nine RBIs in the last two games.
• Justin Szestowicki had a multi-hit game for the first time as a Phoenix in the Sunday win over NJIT finishing 2-for-5.

 
UP NEXT
 

• The Phoenix will travel to Greensboro to take on the UNCG Spartans, Tuesday night. First pitch in Greensboro will be at 4 P.M.