ELON – Elon opened the 2026 baseball season in commanding fashion Friday, scoring in four different innings and rolling past Delaware 13-1 at Latham Park.

Making his first start for the Phoenix (1-0), Brian Strange earned the win after striking out six over 4.1 innings while allowing just two hits and one run. Elon's bullpen combined to shut down the Blue Hens the rest of the way, with Mike Staiano, Sam Nomura and Kehler Hamilton covering the final 4.2 innings and holding Delaware (0-1) scoreless.

Elon broke the game open early with a five-run second inning. Jackson Alford drove in the first run of the season with an RBI double to left. Two batters later, Nate Sterling — also making his Phoenix debut — lined a two-out single that brought home two runs to make it 3-0. Jared Hall followed with a two-run double to cap the inning and extend the lead to five.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Elon struck first with a five-run second inning. Jackson Alford delivered the season's first run with an RBI double, Nate Sterling followed with a two-out, two-run single, and Jared Hall added a two-run double to make it 5-0.
• Brian Strange worked into the fifth inning in his Phoenix debut, striking out six and allowing just one run on two hits to earn the win.
• Delaware scored its lone run in the top of the fifth, but Elon answered in the sixth as Liam Richards singled and later came around to score, extending the lead to 6-1.
• The Phoenix broke the game open with seven runs in the seventh inning, drawing multiple walks and hit batters that forced in four runs. Jose Mariano capped the rally with a two-run single.
• Elon's bullpen trio of Mike Staiano, Sam Nomura and Kehler Hamilton combined for 4.2 scoreless innings to close out the opener, with Hamilton striking out two over the final two frames.

 
QUICK HITS

• Elon won its fourth straight home opener. It's the third consecutive time the Phoenix has scored 10-plus runs and allowed three or fewer in its home opener at Latham Park.
• All nine Phoenix starters reached base while seven collected a hit.
• It's the second straight meeting between Elon and Delaware, former CAA foes, in which the Phoenix posted a seven-run inning. Elon brought eight runs across in the third inning of last season's rubber match.
• Sam Nomura worked through a clean seventh inning on just seven pitches.
• Kehler Hamilton struck out two batters in two innings out of the bullpen.
• Mike Staiano struck out a pair of batters in his 1.2 innings of work.
• Jared Hall drove in three runs and reached base three times in his first game with the Phoenix.
• Nate Sterling drove in three, scored twice, and collected two hits from the nine-hole.
• Elon returnee Jackson Alford went 2-for-2 at the plate, reached four times and scored three runs in the win.

 
UP NEXT
Elon and Delaware will play a doubleheader Saturday at Latham Park starting at 1 p.m. ET. Game 2 of the doubleheader will begin approximately 30 minutes following the completion of Game 1.
 
SUPPORT THE PHOENIX
Fans can support Elon Athletics through the Phoenix Club.
 
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