ELON – Elon took both games over Delaware Saturday afternoon to complete an opening series sweep of the Blue Hens. Elon's offense pounded Delaware pitching all series, with a season-high 17 runs coming in the series finale.
Vince Fattore starred in the doubleheader with three extra-base hits in game two alone. Jake Hajdu trailed not far behind with his first career home run and a career-high six RBIs in game two.
Elon improves to 3-0 on the season while Delaware falls to 0-3.
HOW IT HAPPENED – Game One
- In game one, the Phoenix trailed for the first time all season after falling behind 1-0 in the first. Elon responded with a Kevin Denty, two-RBI double to take a 2-1 lead after one frame.
- Elon continued to answer any Blue Hen attack. A Delaware run in the third was answered with Jose Mariano's first Elon home run and a Vince Fattore RBI double.
- Delaware regained the lead in the fifth with three runs to take a 5-4 lead. The Phoenix countered right back with three of their own. All three Elon runs came on a walk or a hit-by-pitch from Delaware pitching.
- The combination of Sam Nomura and RJ Latkowski slammed the door on game one with the two combining for 3.2 innings of scoreless relief to see out the game.
HOW IT HAPPENED – Game Two
- The Phoenix offense jumped on Delaware from the word go in game two. First inning doubles from Fattore and Hajdu drove in one and three runs respectively in the opening frame. A Lawson Wheeler RBI single gave the Phoenix five runs in the first.
- Delaware gained three runs back in the second from a home run to left field. Once again Elon would answer with a barrage of their own. Disciplined hitting from the Phoenix led to three runs on a walk and two groundouts to erase the home run.
- Elon added three more runs in the fourth inning on a pair of home runs from Fattore and Hajdu.
- Singles from Wheeler and Roche continued the scoring streak in the sixth and seventh innings. Offensively, Elon took advantage of Delaware defensive lapses late with Elon scoring three runs on a walk and two Blue Hens' errors.
- Delaware put up one run in the ninth, but the deficit was too great and Elon took game two, 17-4.
QUICK HITS
- Elon clinched their first weekend series sweep since 2020.
- Jake Hajdu drove in seven runs during the doubleheader (one in game one, six in game two). His six RBIs in a game are the most by a Phoenix since Will Vergantino drove in seven during Elon's record-breaking win over NJIT in 2024. Hajdu hit his first career home run Saturday night.
- Vince Fattore finished Saturday's doubleheader with four extra-base hits. Fattore doubled three times and homered over the 18 innings.
- Gar Hindle made his first career start in game two Saturday. He finished 1-for-1 with three walks and four runs scored.
- Lawson Wheeler made his first career start at DH in game two. Wheeler made his start count with two RBI singles.
- Jose Mariano hit his first Phoenix home run in game one of the doubleheader.
- Ten different players drove in a run over the two games on Saturday.
- Cole Hansen earned his first win as a Phoenix after allowing three runs over 5.2 innings of work.
- Eric Lintelman made his first career appearance for the Phoenix and struck out a pair of batters.
- Aidan Stieglitz earned his first career win after 2.1 innings of relief. Stie glitz also struck out two batters.
- The doubleheader sweep gives head coach Mike Kennedy 885 wins in his career.
UP NEXT
Elon will return to the diamond for a midweek clash with Presbyterian. First pitch between the Phoenix and Blue Hose will be at 4 PM.
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