Six-Run Second Powers Elon Baseball Past Delaware

ELON, N.C. – Austin Leeney drove in four runs and Casey Jones hit a three-run home run as the Elon Phoenix picked up an 8-3 victory over the visiting Delaware Blue Hens in the first game of a three-game CAA baseball series at Latham Park on Friday night.

The Phoenix upped its record to 24-24 overall and 13-9 in league play. Delaware dropped to 19-21, 7-12 on the year.

Leeney finished the night 2-for-4 with a two-RBI single in the second and a two-RBI double in the third. Andy Moore (2-for-2) was the only other Elon player with a multi-hit game.

Three Delaware players had two hits apiece – Norm Donkin (2-for-4), Greg Olenski (2-for-4) and Calvin Scott (2-for-4).

Nick Beaulac (5-2) earned the win after scattering eight hits and striking out six in seven innings of work. The righty allowed three runs.

The loss went to Adam Davis (4-3) who was charged with eight runs on nine hits in 5.1 innings.

Up next: Elon and Delaware will play game two on Saturday at 4 p.m.

How it happened: With one out in the second inning, Chris King singled up the middle ahead of a James Venuto walk. Elon then got three consecutive singles from Moore, Leeney and Kory Shumate to grab a 3-0 lead. With two down, Jones crushed an 0-1 pitch over the wall in center to give the maroon and gold a 6-0 edge. Elon added two more in the third and Delaware erased the shutout with a three-run sixth.

Inside the box score: Elon hit .500 with runners in scoring position, going 5-for-10 on the night … Leeney gunned down runners trying to steal to in each of the first two innings … The Phoenix bullpen allowed just one hit and one walk in two innings and the walk was later erased on a game-ending double play … Elon turned two double plays on the night, bringing its season total to 43.

Notes: Eight of the nine Elon starters had at least one hit and seven of the nine scored at least one run … Jones’ homer was his fifth of the year; Elon now has five players with five or more home runs.