High Point, N.C.- Elon Baseball (16-24, 6-9 CAA) gritted out a win on Wednesday night against the High Point Panthers (27-14, 11-4 Big South) with a stellar performance from Ryan Sprock. The two-way played what could be his best game in the maroon & gold with a four-hit performance to go along with a save and two strikeouts on the mound.
 
Sam Nomura had a bounce back performance in the Wednesday night win. The Maplewood, N.J. native delivered a pair of clutch innings on the mound, earned the win and struck out three in two innings of no-hit relief.
 
The top of the Phoenix lineup delivered another stand out performance. Jackson Alford, Tank Yaghoubi, and Sprock all delivered multi-hit, multi-run outings in the win. Kenny Mallory Jr. delivered at the dish, reached base three times and drove in three runs.  
 
How It Happened

• Elon has made a habit of scoring first and scoring fast and Wednesday was no different. The Phoenix jumped on the Panthers early with five runs in the top half of the opening frame. Five straight batters reached base to start the game with five different players driving in runs.
• An Alford single led off the game followed by a walk from Yaghoubi. Sprock drove in the first run of the game while Alex Duffey drove in another on a single as well. Charlie Granatell doubled in another as the Phoenix plated three runs without recording an out. Mallory Jr. and Alec Welshans both drove in runs on groundouts to extend the lead to five.
• High Point added a run back in the bottom of the first to make it a 5-1 game.
• Elon countered with three more runs in the bottom of the second. A triple from Alford got the ball rolling before Yaghoubi drove him home with an RBI single. The only long ball of the night followed as Ryan Sprock left the yard to dead center to make it an 8-1 game.
• The Panthers brought in five unanswered runs before Elon once again answered in the fourth.
• Elon loaded the bases in the fourth with no outs before two fielder's choices brought home two runs to increase the lead back to four.
• Hudson Narke retired five straight batters in the fourth and sixth to halt the High Point offense before Elon added another pair of runs in the sixth.
• After a double from Sprock and Granatell walk, Kenny Mallory Jr. brought both home on an RBI double to the left field corner to make the game 12-7.
• Sam Nomura would stop the Panther offense in its track in the seventh and eighth innings and gave Elon a three-run cushion headed into the ninth inning.
• High Point scored twice before Ryan Sprock struck out the final batter with the go-ahead run on base to take the midweek matchup with High Point.

 
Notes and Stats

• Elon improves to 16-24 on the year with the win over High Point.
• The Phoenix snaps a four-game losing streak to the Panthers with the win on Wednesday night.
• Elon has now won six of the last seven games at Williard Stadium dating back to 2017.
• Ryan Sprock had one of his best nights as a Phoenix in the win. Sprock finished 4-for-5 at the dish with a home run, double, two singles, four RBI, and three runs scored at the plate. Sprock collected his second save of the season and struck out a pair of batters in the ninth inning.
• Jackson Alford finished with a multi-hit night and three runs scored in the win. Alford reached three times and tripled in the victory.
• Alex Duffey reached base four times with three walks and an RBI single.
• Charlie Granatell and Kenny Mallory Jr. both doubled and drove in multiple runs in the win.
• Tank Yaghoubi had a pair of hits, and a pair of runs scored Wednesday night.
• Sam Nomura got his second win of the season with two innings of scoreless, hitless relief. Nomura struck out a game-high three batters in the win.
• Hudson Narke threw a team high 2.2 innings on Wednesday. Narke allowed just two hits and retired five straight batters at one point.

 
Up Next
The Phoenix returns to Latham Park after a 2-2 road trip for a crucial, CAA series against North Carolina A&T. First pitch against the Aggies on Friday will be at 6 PM.