Mt. Pleasant, S.C.- Having scored early all season to jump on opponents, the Elon Phoenix (25-31) saved their offensive outburst for the ninth inning in Thursday's CAA Championship win over William & Mary (21-35). The Phoenix brought home six runs in the ninth inning to provide enough cushion in their 7-4 win over William & Mary.
 
Alex Duffey continued his strong past few days with a go-ahead, ninth inning home run to give Elon a three-run lead in the final frame. Duffey has loved the Ballpark at Patriots Point this season with three of his four home runs coming in Mt. Pleasant.
 
Justin Mitrovich tossed one of the better outings of career, in one of the biggest games of his career, against the Tribe on Thursday. Mitrovich delivered 7.2 innings on the mound, struck out five and allowed just five hits in his no decision.
 
How It Happened

• The Elon offense would be scarce throughout the first eight innings, but like they have done all season Elon struck first.
• With two outs, three straight Phoenix all reached in different ways with Ryan Sprock singling, Alex Duffey reaching on catcher's interference and a Charlie Granatell walk, loaded the bases for Kenny Mallory Jr. Mallory Jr. worked a full count and eventually a walk to bring home the game's first run.
• Justin Mitrovich got the ball for the Phoenix and immediately retired one of the CAA's best trios, 1-2-3 in the first.
• The Tribe would go on to tie the score in the second inning on a sacrifice fly.
• The game became a pitcher's duel with Justin Mitrovich settling in while William & Mary kept the Phoenix off balance with a trio of pitchers.
• Elon put multiple runners on base in both the seventh and the eighth innings but could not find the game-changing run.
• Mitrovich went into the eighth inning and retired two batters before he exited. Sprock came to the mound from third base and forced a bases loaded lineout to keep the game tied.
• With two outs in the ninth, the Phoenix struck hard. Jackson Alford reached base on a walk and stole second to put a runner in scoring position. After a walk from Sprock, Duffey stepped to the plate. With two strikes, Alex Duffey launched a deep fly ball to left field into the trees, some 411 feet from home plate. The home run gave Elon a three-run lead but that was not it for the Phoenix offense. A single from Justin Szestowicki and a walk to Kenny Mallory Jr. put two runners in scoring position for Will Vergantino. Vergantino laced a single back up the middle to score both runs and give Elon a five-run lead. Another run would come around to score later in the inning on a hit-by-pitch and give Elon a 7-1 lead.
• Ryan Sprock would stay in the game on the mound and hold down the lead, as William & Mary would score three runs to make the final outcome closer.

 
Notes and Stats

• Elon improves to 25-31 on the season with win over William & Mary.  
• For the senior class and Will Vergantino, they have now won a game in every CAA Championship they have appeared in with the first coming back in 2021.
• The Phoenix has now won three straight CAA Championship games against William & Mary. The last two wins over William & Mary in 2022 and 2025 have knocked out the Tribe from the Championship.
• Alex Duffey hit his fourth home run of the season in the win. Duffey continues to increase his RBI total as he leads the club now with 53 RBI.
• Will Vergantino finished 1-for-3 on the day and reached base three times. Vergantino also drove in two runs in the win.
• Kenny Mallory Jr. also finished 1-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI.
• Ryan Sprock was 1-for-4 with a pair of runs scored in the win over the Tribe.
• Justin Mitrovich almost tied his career high in innings pitched with 7.2 against the Tribe. Mitrovich struck out five batters on the day and now has 81 punch outs on the season. Mitrovich is the first Phoenix since George Kirby and Kyle Brnovich to have back-to-back 80 strikeout seasons.
• Elon stole three bases in the win. Mallory Jr. and Vergantino continue to battle for the team lead with 17 swipes a piece.

 
Up Next
The Phoenix continues CAA Championship play against the #4 College of Charleston Cougars on Friday. First pitch between Elon and the Cougars will be at 11 AM.