Elon, N.C.- Ryan Sprock hit his 14^th home run of the season and 30^th of his career Thursday night in Elon's 7-2 loss to UNCW. The Phoenix (24-28, 13-12 CAA) was held to just one hit through the first seven innings in the loss to the Seahawks (30-22, 17-8 CAA), but rebounded with a run in the eighth and ninth innings.
 
 
How It Happened

• The Seahawks were relatively quiet in the first trip through the lineup on Thursday night, but a run would come in the first inning off a solo home run.
• After the solo home run, Nolan Straniero would settle in and retire seven straight Seahawks' batters.
• UNCW would begin to add runs slowly beginning in the fourth inning. A run in the fourth, two in the fifth and one in the sixth of Straniero would give the Seahawks a five-run lead after six innings of play.
• The Seahawks added two more in the in the eighth before the Phoenix would scratch their first run across.
• After loading the bases with one out, Justin Szestowicki hit a shallow pop fly into right field that landed which drove in Kenny Mallory Jr. from third.
• In the ninth, Ryan Sprock got a run back with a solo home run to center field, off the scoreboard, to trim the final deficit to 7-2 in favor of UNCW.

 
Notes and Stats

• Elon falls to 24-28 on the season and 13-12 in CAA play.  
• With a win in the next two games, the Phoenix would clinch a spot at the CAA Championships in Charleston, S.C. A win or a Delaware loss would see the Phoenix return to the CAA Championships for the first time since 2023.
• Ryan Sprock hit his 14^th home run of the season in the loss. The home run was the 30^th of Sprock's career and he becomes just the tenth player in Elon history to hit 30 home runs in a career. Sprock becomes the first to hit 30 since Ryan Kinsella joined the 30 home run club in 2013.
• Kenny Mallory Jr. hit his seventh double of the season in the loss.
• Henry Wolfe collected his second career hit with a single in the ninth.
• Nolan Straniero struck out three in six innings of work.
• Mike Staiano put in his best relief outing of the season. Staiano went 1.2 innings out of the pen, allowed just one hit and struck out three while walking none.

 
Up Next
The Phoenix continues its series with the Seahawks on Friday. First pitch against UNCW will be at 6 PM.