Casey Jones(Western Guilford HS) Powers Elon Baseball Past Towson in Opener

TOWSON, Md. – Casey Jones(formerly of Western Guilford High School) went 4-for-5 with a home run and three RBI as Elon pounded out 12 hits on its way to a 6-1 victory in game one of a three-game Colonial Athletic Association series at Towson on Friday afternoon.

The win improved the maroon and gold to 17-18 overall and 8-5 in CAA play, while the Tigers dropped to 10-24-2, 4-9.

Along with Jones, both Andy Moore and Ryan Cooper had multiple hit days. Moore was 3-for-5 and scored twice. Cooper homered and was 2-for-4.

Brady Policelli was 2-for-4 to lead Towson at the plate.

After going 6.2 innings and striking out six, Matt Harris (5-2) picked up the victory. Harris allowed one hit in each of the first two innings, but did not allow another until the seventh inning.

The loss went to Tiger starter Nick Cioffi (0-2) who lasted just an inning and a third and was charged with four runs on five hits.

Up next: Elon and Towson will play game two of the series on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m.

How it happened: Jones drilled the second pitch of the game over the wall in left-center to quickly put the Phoenix on top. Two batters later, Cooper connected on his fourth bomb of the season. Elon would score two more in the second and push across another pair in the eighth to secure the win.

Inside the box score: Jones stretched his streak of reaching base safely to a season-high 19 games … Elon’s leadoff hitter reached in five of nine innings … Six of nine Phoenix starters recorded a hit … Three Phoenix relievers combined to throw 2.1 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits.

Notes: Jones’ leadoff homer was the first for Elon since Sebastian Gomez did so against Wofford on April 21, 2013 … Elon improved to 6-1 all-time against Towson … The Phoenix is now 14-0 this year when leading after seven innings.