Elon Baseball to Close Out Home Slate With CAA Set Against Delaware

ELON, N.C. – Just three home games remain on the schedule for the Elon baseball team in 2015. The Phoenix will close out its slate at Latham Park with a three-game CAA series against the Delaware Blue Hens beginning Friday, May 8 at 6:30 p.m. Saturday will see a 4 p.m. start and the finale is slated for 1:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Prior to Sunday’s game, Elon will recognize 11 seniors – John Antonelli, Lucas Bakker, Alec Bankhead, Quinn Bower, Ryan Cooper, Casey Jones, Chris King, Wil Leathers, Andy Moore, Jake Stalzer and Joey Tomko.

Promotions
Friday
• Free Koozies for all fans

Saturday
• Military Appreciation Day (Free tickets to all military personnel and their families with a military ID)
• Phoenix Phanatics Tailgate / Phoenix Club Day

Sunday
• Vs. Cancer
• Sunday Funday (Inflatables)

Elon Vs. Cancer
For the fourth straight year, the Elon baseball team will join forces with much of the collegiate baseball family to help raise money to fight childhood cancer. This season, the Phoenix will partner with the Vs. Cancer Foundation to hold a head-shaving event following its 1:30 p.m. game with Delaware on Sunday, May 10.

All players and coaches on the Elon roster will have their heads shaved in support of this important cause. In the past three years, Elon’s head-shaving events raised over $43,000 that went toward fighing childhood cancer.

To donate, visit team.vs-cancer.org/elonbaseball.

Live Coverage
Fans can follow the Phoenix via live stats by going to the Elon baseball schedule page at elonphoenix.com. Twitter updates will be posted on the @ElonScores account or fans can register to have score updates texted to their phone. Fans can also listen to the game live on WSML 104.5 FM and 1200 AM. All three games will have a free video stream available through Phoenix All-Access.

Starting Pitchers
Friday, May 8
Elon: RHP Nick Beaulac (4-2, 4.65 ERA, 40.2 IP, 52 K)
Delaware: RHP Adam Davis (4-2, 3.82 ERA, 66.0 IP, 54 K)

Saturday, May 9
Elon: RHP Lucas Bakker (5-5, 5.80 ERA, 71.1 IP, 50 K)
Delaware: RHP Ron Marinaccio (3-3, 3.71 ERA, 53.1 IP, 39 K)

Sunday, May 10
Elon: TBA
Delaware: LHP Kevin Milley (3-3, 6.00 ERA, 30.0 IP, 23 K)

The Series
Elon and Delaware have met just four times on the baseball diamond prior to this weekend’s series. The first meeting came in 1910, a 10-2 Elon victory. The last was a 3-2 win by the Blue Hens in 1967.

Coaching Continuity
Elon skipper Mike Kennedy is in his 19th year at the helm of his alma mater, but what may be more impressive is the tenure of his staff. Associate head coach Greg Starbuck is in his 17th season at Elon and assistant coach Robbie Huffstetler is in his 12th year in the maroon and gold. That group is one of just six in Division I baseball to have been together for at least 12 seasons. The others are Minnesota (33/30/17), Lamar (38/17/15), Miami (22/16/13), Virginia (12/12/12) and Gonzaga (12/12/12).

CAA Tournament Spot Clinched
With its Sunday win at Hofstra, Elon secured a spot in the upcoming, six-team CAA Tournament. The league showcase will be be played at Patriots Point in Mt. Pleasant, S.C., from May 20-23.

Walk Free
Elon lefty Jake Stalzer has been pounding the strikezone lately. Stalzer has not allowed a walk in his last 15.0 innings pitched.

Bower Collects Academic All-District Honor
Senior outfielder Quinn Bower was named to the Capital One Academic All-Distrct 3 Baseball Team for the second straight year. Bower sports a 3.79 GPA in finance. He is now eligible for Academic All-America accolades.

Elon Baseball Live Radio Show
The Elon Baseball Live Radio Show will be broadcast once more this spring. Each show is broadcast live from Mellow Mushroom on Huffman Mill Road in Burlington from 7-8 p.m. Fans are encouraged to come out to the show to hear from Phoenix head coach Mike Kennedy and select players. The final date will be May 18.

On Deck
The Phoenix will wrap up the regular season with a 6 p.m. contest at East Carolina on Tuesday, May 12.