Elon, N.C.- For the second straight time at Latham Park, the Elon Phoenix (8-9) were walk-off winners. Shane Paradine carried the Phoenix in the final two frames at the plate to secure the win over the Minnesota Golden Gophers (7-8) 2-1 in ten innings.
 
Paradine homered in the bottom of the ninth to tie the score then finished off Minnesota with a tenth inning single to score Kenny Mallory Jr.
 
Mallory Jr. and Alex Duffey finished with multi-hit games while Justin Mitrovich tossed another fine performance. Mitrovich went six innings allowing just one run, unearned, while striking out eight Golden Gophers.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Mitrovich worked his way out of a first inning jam with a swinging strikeout to end the top frame threat.
• Minnesota would bounce back in the second inning with an RBI single through the left side to take a 1-0 lead.
• Over the next three frames, Mitrovich would find a groove and strikeout four batters while allowing a trio of singles.
• Alex Duffey tried to get the Phoenix going with a pair of singles in the fifth and seventh innings. Following the seventh inning single, Justin Szestowicki provided the first extra-base hit of the night with a double to left field. With two runners in scoring position, Elon couldn't bring a runner home and still trailed by one run.
• After Mitrovich completed his outing, Nolan Staniero entered the game out of the bullpen and pitched extremely well. Straniero forced a double play then induced a groundout to get out of the frame.
• Straniero's outing continued into the eighth and ninth with a strikeout in each frame and back-to-back flyouts to end both innings.
• To begin the bottom of the ninth inning, Shane Paradine took the first pitch he saw deep over the left-center field fence to tie the score at one.
• Sam Nomura entered the game in extra innings and caught the Golden Gophers looking with two outs to retire Minnesota in the top of the tenth.
• Mallory Jr. notched another hit in the top of the tenth, then went first-to-third on a bloop single from Charlie Granatell. With two outs, Paradine delivered again with a single up the middle to secure the Phoenix win.

NOTES AND STATS

• Justin Mitrovich secured his fourth quality start of the year by going six innings and allowing just one, unearned run. Mitrovich finished with eight strikeouts to just two walks.
• Nolan Straniero went three innings out of the bullpen while allowing no runs. Straniero struck out a pair of batters.
• Sam Nomura earned the win against Minnesota with a clean tenth inning.
• Shane Paradine finished with the two most clutch hits of his Elon career. His ninth inning home run was the second of his Phoenix career and the walk-off hit was the second in as many home games for Elon.
• Kenny Mallory Jr. and Alex Duffey both finished with multi-hit games for the Phoenix. Mallory has reached base in every one of his 15 starts this season.
• Friday's win over Minnesota is the first victory over a B1G Ten team since Elon defeated Illinois in 2020 to open a weekend series with the Illini.

UP NEXT

• The Phoenix will return to Latham Park on Saturday for a 2 pm first pitch with the Golden Gophers.