Elon, N.C.- A late eighth inning surge was not enough Saturday afternoon as the Elon Phoenix (24-30, 13-14 CAA) fell in game three of their weekend series with the UNCW Seahawks (32-22, 19-8 CAA). Four different Phoenix had multi-hit games with Kenny Mallory Jr. leading the way with a 3-for-4 performance.
 
 
How It Happened

• For the third time in the series, the Seahawks struck first. In the second inning, UNCW put up a five-spot in the second inning to take a 5-0 lead.
• UNCW added to the lead in the third with a lone run in the inning to grab a 6-0 advantage.
• Elon got on the board in the bottom of the third when Justin Szestowicki homered over the left field fence to get a run back for the Phoenix.
• The pitching would eventually settle in for both sides as the offenses were kept at bay in the fourth and fifth innings.
• The Seahawks would once again expand their lead in the sixth with a pair of runs to take an 8-1 lead. UNCW added another run in the seventh to take a 9-1 lead.
• Elon's offense got the ball rolling in the eighth. A Mallory Jr. single followed by walks from Will Vergantino and Trey Tiffan loaded the bases. Szestowicki brought in his second run of the game on an RBI walk to make the score 9-2. Ryley Norton pinch hit and drove in his first career run with a groundout to bring the deficit to six. Elon added another when Tank Yaghoubi reached on an error to cut into UNCW's lead again.
• In the bottom of the ninth, Elon saw the first two runners reach base, which was followed by Vergantino singling home a run. That would be the only run Elon would plate in the ninth inning as UNCW took game three of the series, 9-5.

 
Notes and Stats

• Elon finishes the regular season with a 24-30 record and a 13-14 record in conference play.    
• Elon has clinched a spot in the 2025 CAA Baseball Championships next week as the number six seed in the tournament.
• Kenny Mallory Jr. finished his day 3-for-4 at the plate, scored a run and swiped two bags. Mallory Jr. finishes with a team-high 16 stolen bases during the regular season.
• Will Vergantino put together a two-hit day for the Phoenix. Vergantino also stole a base in the loss.
• Tank Yaghoubi and Alex Duffey both had two-hit days as well against the Seahawks. 
• Justin Szestowicki hit his fourth home run of the season on Saturday. Szestowicki is third on the team in home runs during CAA play with three.
• Mallory Jr. and Vergantino become the first Elon duo to each steal 15 bases in a season since Alex Swim and Quinn Bower did it in 2013.

 
Up Next
The Phoenix opens CAA Championship play against the #3 Campbell Camels on Wednesday in Charleston. First pitch between Elon and the Camels will be at 4 PM.