Wilmington, N.C.- Solo homers from James Broderick and Alex Duffey gave the Elon Phoenix (9-13, 0-2 CAA) a spark offensively, but could not overcome UNCW (12-10, 2-0 CAA). Elon fell 5-3 against UNCW Saturday night for their second straight loss to open CAA play.

 
Broderick finished with his best effort of the season. The shortstop finished with two-extra base hits and two double plays turned in the field. Duffey hit his third home run of the season to give the Phoenix life in the ninth inning.
 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Both starting pitchers got off to flying starts with a clean first three innings. Ben Sieracki struck out the first batters he faced and got out of two jams in the second and third innings thanks to Broderick's defensive efforts.
• After a scoreless fourth inning, Elon registered their first hit of the afternoon on a Will Vergantino single up the middle.
• UNCW would strike first with a solo home run to start the fifth inning and then bring a run home on a sacrifice fly to double their advantage.
• Elon halved the deficit on a Broderick solo home run to right center field. It was Broderick's first home run of the season and second of his career against UNCW.
• The Seahawks answered with back-to-back homers of their own to take a 4-1 advantage heading into the seventh inning.
• In the top of the eighth, Broderick followed up his solo home run with a double down the left field line to start the inning. Elon would bring Broderick home with an RBI groundout from Ryan Sprock.
• The Seahawks put another solo shot on the board in the eighth to go ahead by three heading into the ninth.
• Alex Duffey homered as the first batter in the inning before the Phoenix were retired in order to finish the game.

 
NOTES AND STATS

• Ben Sieracki threw a career high six innings while tying his career high in strikeouts with six as well. Sieracki was able to strikeout the side in the first.
• Liam Dabagian struck out two batters and allowed a lone run in the bottom of the eighth.
• James Broderick finished with another multi-hit game on Saturday. This makes back-to-back multi-hit efforts for the senior.
• Broderick had two extra-base hits in the game for the first time since his effort against NC State in Elon's win over the Wolfpack last season.
• Alex Duffey hit his third home run of the season against UNCW, Saturday night.
• Tanner Holliman and Will Vergantino both recorded base hits on Saturday.
• This is the first time the Phoenix has lost back-to-back CAA games in series since 2022.

 
UP NEXT

• Elon looks to bounce back in game three on Sunday against the Seahawks. First pitch is set for 2 pm.