Elon, N.C.- The Elon Phoenix (8-11) put together a five-run first inning for the second time in three games, but the early offense was not enough to take the game and series from the Wofford Terriers (14-6).
 
The top four batters in the Phoenix lineup finished with multi-hit days with Jackson Alford leading the way with his first career Elon home run. Charlie Granatell finished his day 3-for-3 at the plate which increased his average to .295.
 
Elon got a solid start from Declan Lavelle on the mound. The starter allowed just two earned runs in 5.2 innings of work and struck out three batters.  
 
How It Happened

• The Phoenix offense began the day with a blistering, offensive attack. Alford and Granatell led off the game with back-to-back singles before Ryan Sprock singled home Alford to give the Phoenix a one-run lead.
• Alex Duffey singled and a Will Vergantino walk brought in another run. Kenny Mallory Jr. grounded out up the middle which scored Sprock from third. Tank Yaghoubi hit a two-out single to the second baseman to score Duffey and heads up base running from Vergantino scored a fifth run of the inning.
• Wofford answered with a run in the bottom of the first before Alford launched a solo home run to give Elon the five-run lead back.
• After the first inning, Declan Lavelle would begin to roll and put up four straight zeros going into the fifth inning.
• Wofford would begin to chip away in the sixth and seventh, combining for four runs to bring the deficit to one.
• After a clutch double play to get out of the eighth inning, Wofford came to the plate in the ninth and hit a walk-off, two-run double with two-outs to take the third game and the series.

 
Notes and Stats

• The Phoenix drops to 8-11 following the Sunday loss to Wofford.
• Charlie Granatell put together his first three-hit day of the season in the loss. Granatell has three multi-hit games in his last four starts.
• Jackson Alford hit his first career Elon home run in the loss. He becomes the fourth different Phoenix to homer this season.
• Ryan Sprock continued to surge against the Terriers. With a pair of hits, Sprock has now hit in six straight games and gotten multiple hits in four of them.
• Alex Duffey finished with a mutli-hit afternoon and continues to get on base via the walk. Duffey now leads the team in walks and has 21 on the season.
• Declan Lavelle pitched 5.2 innings against the Terriers and struck out three. Through five starts, opponents are batting just .192 against the right-hander.

 
Up Next
The Phoenix will host High Point on Tuesday in an I-40 rivalry. First pitch with the Panthers at Latham Park will be at 4 PM.