Elon, N.C.- Prior to the bottom of the seventh, the Elon Phoenix (3-6) and Brown Bears (0-5) were locked in a 2-2 pitcher's duel, then the Elon offense arose. Beginning with four runs in the bottom half of the seventh, followed by six runs in the eighth, the Phoenix raced past the Bears Friday night, 12-2.
 
Junior Justin Mitrovich controlled much of the night from the pitcher's mound. The right-hander went seven innings, allowed a lone earned run, struck out eight batters and walked none in his first winning effort in 2025.
 
Four different Phoenix delivered multi-hit games, with all nine starters reaching base. Alec Welshans delivered a two-hit, three RBI game and hit one of Elon's three doubles. Vince Fattore also put together a multi-hit night and scored two runs while also driving in a pair.
 
 
How It Happened

• The Phoenix and Bears both scattered hits through the first two innings, with Ryan Sprock collecting the lone hit with a double in the second inning.
• Brown struck first in the third with a squeeze bunt play, to bring home the first runner of the game. With two runners on, Justin Mitrovich forced a ground ball, and the Elon defense turned two to get out of the jam.
• The Bears defense allowed Elon to jump start their offense in the third. Charlie Granatell reached on an error as the lead off batter, before a throwing error by Brown's second baseman, allowed Kenny Mallory Jr. to reach and scored Granatell after the errant throw went into the Elon dugout. Alex Duffey then grounded into a fielder's choice which scored Jackson Alford from third and gave Elon a 2-1 lead.
• Mitrovich continued to provide big pitches and weak contact through the middle innings. After two runners reached in the fourth, Justin Mitrovich nailed down the inning with a big strikeout to end the Bears' threat.
• In the fifth inning, an executed hit and run by Brown would bring in a run to tie the score. Mitrovich then shutout down four straight batters going into the seventh inning.
• Duffey delivered behind the plate with Brown looking to put a man in scoring position, the backstop nailed a runner attempting to steal to end Brown's threat in the seventh.
• The floodgates would open in the seventh for the Phoenix. After an Alford double and Mallory Jr. walk, a passed ball would allow both runners to move up 90 feet before an RBI groundout from Duffey brought home the go-ahead run.
• After a pitching change, three straight Elon batters would blow the game open. Vince Fattore singled to right enter to bring home another run. A Will Vergantino walk set up Alec Welshans to split the left-center gap with a double, bringing in two more to give Elon a 6-2 lead.
• In the bottom of the eighth, the Phoenix poured it on. The first seven batters of the inning would reach, and the first six batters of the inning would come around to score. The first four batters reached on just one hit with walks to Tank Yaghoubi,  Alford and Duffey. The game was capped off when Charlie Granatell would single through the right side which brought in the mercy rule clinching run as Elon capped the night 12-2 winners.

 
Notes and Stats

• The Phoenix improves to 3-6 on the season after the game one victory.
• Elon scored at least 12 runs at home for the second time this season after scoring 16 against Presbyterian earlier this season.
• The Phoenix has averaged 14 runs this year coming off loses to rank opponents.
• Justin Mitrovich made his third start of the season Friday night. Mitrovich went a season high seven innings and earned his first win of the season. His zero walks were a season low, and Friday's game marked his first seven-plus inning game with no-walks since Elon's shutout win over Delaware in 2023.
• Alec Welshans put together his second multi-hit effort in the last three games and collected his second extra-base hit of the season. He drove in a D1, personal best 3 RBI in the win.
• Vince Fattore put together another multi-RBI game, which increased his season total to nine. Fattore has four games this season with at least two RBIs.
• Jackson Alford scored three runs in the win over Brown Friday night. Alford has now scored 12 runs this season and has a team high 14 hits.
• Will Vergantino also put together a two-hit night, his second of the season.
• Alex Duffey drove in a season high three runs in the loss without recording a hit.
• Kenny Mallory Jr. extended his on-base streak to nine games to start the season.

 
Up Next
The Phoenix will return to Latham Park tomorrow afternoon for game two of the weekend series. First pitch with the Bears will be at 2 PM.