Williamsburg, Va.- The Elon Phoenix (10-20, 2-6 CAA) entered the ninth inning down 13-9 on Saturday at Plumeri Park but would not go down quietly. Two runs in the ninth capped by a Charlie Granatell RBI-double put the Phoenix in position to tie the score with Nathan Wingenroth rounding third base. However, a win was not in the cards for the Phoenix on Saturday as Wingenroth was thrown out at the plate trying to tie the score and William & Mary (12-18, 6-2 CAA) took game two, 13-12.
 
How It Happened

• Contrary to game one, the Tribe scored first in the second inning with W&M bringing home a run in the second to take a 1-0 lead.
• Elon continued their trend of early, big innings in CAA play with a six-run third inning. After a leadoff walk, Justin Szestowicki doubled to center to tie the score. After a fielder's choice that brought in the go-ahead run, Jackson Alford broke the game open for the Phoenix with a grand slam to left center to bring Elon's lead to five.
• The momentum would not last long as William & Mary clawed back with a three-run third inning to bring the deficit to two.
• A Troy McGirt triple brought the Phoenix to within 90 feet of getting a run back in the following inning and Elon was able to cash in on a Charlie Granatell RBI single.
• The Tribe answered with a run in the bottom half of the fourth, but the Phoenix responded with another two in the fifth. Will Vergantino singled home a run with two on and no one out in the inning with McGirt grounded out to bring home another.
• William & Mary would answer the call with eight consecutive runs over the fifth, sixth and seventh innings to take a 13-9 lead heading into the final inning.
• Elon did not go down quietly in the ninth. Alford reached with a groundball up the middle to lead off the inning before Vergantino reached with a single. A Szestowicki walk loaded the bases before Alec Welshans singled up the middle and an errant throw by the shortstop allowed an additional run to score. Charlie Granatell delivered with two-on, two-out and down just two. Granatell doubled into the left field corner which drove in one run but could not bring in two as Nathan Wingenroth was gunned down at the plate to end the ballgame.

 
Notes and Stats

• The Phoenix falls to 10-20 on the season with Sunday's loss. Elon drops to 2-6 in the CAA following the defeat.
• Jackson Alford found a resurgence after game one batting in the five hole on Saturday. Alford drove in a season high four runs, all on the third inning grand slam in the loss. Alford also scored three runs in the loss and reached via a walk.
• Troy McGirt made his second start of the season and rewarded the decision with a multi-hit game. McGirt hit his second triple of the season in the win and drove in a run.
• Charlie Granatell drove in a pair of runs and collected a double and single in the loss. The double was the sixth of the season for Granatell and gives him 48 career doubles and 209 career hits. He started his 181^st career game on Saturday and puts him in a tie for ninth in Elon's Division I history in career starts.
• Alex Duffey added another multi-hit game to his season total and reached base via the walk for the 28^th time this season. Duffey is tied for second in the CAA in base on balls this season.
• Will Vergantino had a multi-hit afternoon with a run scored and an RBI to his name.
• Justin Szestowicki finished with a double, run scored and RBI in the Saturday loss.

 
Up Next
The Phoenix looks to bounce back against the Tribe tomorrow for game three of the weekend series. The final game with the Tribe will begin at 1 PM.