Elon, N.C.- Elon baseball (4-6) had the game-winning run come to the plate in the bottom of the ninth but fell to Valpo (4-5) 7-5 on Saturday night.
 
Kenny Mallory Jr. was hot at the top of the order. The junior finished 4-for-5 on the day while fellow outfielder Charlie Granatell hit a seventh inning, three-run homer to bring the Phoenix within two. Justin Szestowicki got the Phoenix on the board with a fifth inning with his first-career home run.
 
Hudson Narke was key out of the bullpen, securing a season-high and career-high five strikeouts. Ben Sieracki made his first weekend start, going five innings and striking out five as well.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 

• Valpo got on the board early with a solo home run in the top of the first. The Beacons brought around another run in the top of the first to grab a 2-0 lead.
• The starters would settle in for both sides with Sieracki retiring three straight then four straight with a trio of strikeouts over the third and fourth innings.
• The Beacons added another run with the fifth with a sacrifice fly to center field to bring around a third.
• The Phoenix would counter with two runs of their own in the bottom of the fifth. Justin Szestowicki hit his first career shot using a solo blast to cut into the Valpo lead. Mallory Jr. registered his third hit, then manufactured a run following a throwing error on failed pickoff attempt. Mallory Jr. came around to score on a passed ball, trimming the lead to one.
• Valpo immediately brought in two runs to eliminate Elon's bottom of the fifth. Both runs came unearned following an error which scored the first run of the inning.
• In the seventh inning, the Beacons added two runs on a single to right field stretching the lead to five.
• Charlie Granatell got the Phoenix right back into the game with a three-run homer off the Latham Park scoreboard.
• Elon brought the winning run to the plate in the ninth inning following a Kenny Mallory Jr. base hit, but the Phoenix couldn't bring a run across and would fall in the second straight game to Valpo.

 
NOTES AND STATS
 

• Ben Sieracki got his second start of the season and tied his career-high for innings pitched. He also tied a career high with five strikeouts.
• Kenny Mallory Jr. registered the second four-hit game of the season and of his career on Saturday.
• Charlie Granatell hit his first home run of the season Saturday. He is now the tenth different Phoenix to homer in the first ten games.
• Justin Szestowicki hit his first career home run against Valpo. Szestowicki also made his fifth start at shortstop this season.
• Hudson Narke made another relief appearance for the Phoenix and registered a career-high five strikeouts.

 
UP NEXT
 

• The Phoenix hit the road for the first time in a weekend series as they take on the #1 Wake Forest Demon Deacons tomorrow at David F. Couch Ballpark. First pitch against Wake will be at 2 pm.