Hempstead, N.Y.- For the second time in two days, the Elon Phoenix (23-25, 12-9 CAA) used a late inning rally to take down the Hofstra Pride (14-34, 4-17 CAA). After taking a 6-2 lead after three innings, the Pride slowly chipped away and took the lead in the seventh inning. The Phoenix would rally again in the eighth inning for the second consecutive day to secure a 10-8 win and a weekend series sweep.
 
Ryan Sprock continued his strong week with a three-hit performance on Sunday and provided an RBI single in the ninth to give Elon an important insurance run. Justin Szestowicki continues to find his form as he homered for the second straight day and drove in a pair of runs. Six different Phoenix drove in runs in the win while Jackson Alford scored twice to become the first Phoenix since 2009 to score 60 more runs in a season.
 
The Pride were held scoreless in the final two innings by the trio of Cade Mustard, Owen Winebarger and Sam Nomura. Winebarger and Nomura both pitched for the second consecutive day with Nomura earning his third save in the last four games.
 
How It Happened

• The Phoenix offense has become accustomed to scoring early and Sunday was no different. After the first two batters reached safely, Alex Duffey drove in Alford on a sacrifice fly to take a 1-0 lead.
• Hofstra added two runs in the bottom of the first to take a 2-1 lead after an inning of play.
• After the second inning produced no runs for either side, the Phoenix exploded for another crooked number in the third inning. A single from Tank Yaghoubi and a double from Sprock put two runners on with no one out. After two outs, a slow ground ball from Kenny Mallory Jr. forced an error and both runners would come around to score. Following the error, Will Vergantino tripled to right field to bring home Mallory from first. Justin Szestowicki capped off the inning by hitting his second home run in two days to give the Phoenix a four-run advantage.
• Hofstra answered with two runs in the bottom of the fourth to halve the deficit from four to two.
• Elon countered with a run the top of the sixth inning when Charlie Granatell singled home a run to give the Phoenix a 7-4 lead.
• The Pride, much like yesterday, would take the lead after a middle inning surge. Hofstra put up four runs in the sixth and seventh innings to take an 8-7 lead going into the final three innings.
• The Phoenix immediately responded with a two-run, two-out double from Kenny Mallory Jr. to take a 9-8 lead.
• Ryan Sprock added an insurance run on an RBI single to cap his weekend and give the Phoenix a 10-8 lead.
• Owen Winebarger got a quick out in the ninth inning, but after he allowed a base runner, Sam Nomura was sent in to shut the game down. After loading the bases, Nomura forced a weak ground ball to Sprock at third who stepped on the bag and sealed Elon's 10-8 win over Hofstra.

 
Notes and Stats

• Elon improves to 23-25 on the season and 12-9 in CAA play.  
• With the win, Elon continues its sole possession of fourth place in the CAA with an 12-9 record. UNCW and William & Mary sit one spot above the Phoenix and one game above Elon in the standings.
• Elon has been on a tear in recent CAA play and has won seven of its last eight conference games. Six straight wins have taken the Phoenix from 10^th in the standings at 6-9 to fourth at 12-9.
• Justin Szestowicki homered for the second straight day and for the third time on the season. Over the past two games, Szestowicki has driven in eight runs and gotten on base five times via a base hit.
• Ryan Sprock finished with a three-hit day and scored three runs in the victory. With his two walks, Sprock reached base five times and hit his 15^th double of the season which leads the club.
• Tank Yaghoubi picked up another multi-hit game in CAA play. Tank singled twice and scored a run in the win.
• Jackson Alford scored his 60^th run of the season in the win. Alford is the first Phoenix with 60 or more runs scored in a season since 2009.
• Will Vergantino and Kenny Mallory Jr. both had RBI-extra base hits in the win. Vergantino hit his team leading third triple while Mallory doubled for the sixth time.
• Hank Krift picked up his second win of the season.  
• Sam Nomura picked up his third save of the season and the sixth save over his last two seasons.
• Elon has become a two-base machine this season with five players collecting ten doubles or more. The Phoenix has five players with ten doubles or more in a season for the first time since 2016.

 
Up Next
The Phoenix continues its race to secure a spot in the 2025 CAA Tournament in Charleston, S.C. with a crucial CAA series this weekend. Elon will travel to Campbell to take on the Fighting Camels in a three-game, weekend series.