Elon Baseball Opens 2016 Season vs. Wright State on Friday

ELON, N.C. – The Elon University baseball team will begin its 2016 season on Friday, Feb. 19, by playing host to the Wright State Raiders at 4 p.m. in game one of a four-game weekend series. The Phoenix and Raiders will then meet in a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday before wrapping up the set with a 1:30 p.m. contest on Sunday at Latham Park.

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 thorughout the game.

The Series
Elon and Wright State have played two previous times, with each earning one victory. The Raiders downed Elon 9-4 on March 4, 2011 before the Phoenix picked up a 6-2 victory the following day in games played at Latham Park.

Preseason Prognostications
In its second season in the CAA, the league’s coaches selected the Phoenix to tie for third in the preseason poll. Elon and Northeastern both received 45 points in the poll and the maroon and gold earned one first-place vote. Junior Nick Zammarelli was an honorable mention preseason all-conference selection.

A New Face
After 12 years of not having any changes to the fulltime coaching staff, Elon has a little bit of a new look in 2016. Associate head coach Greg Starbuck, who had spent 17 seasons in the maroon and gold, departed the Phoenix staff for a position at Clemson last summer. Former assistant coach Robbie Huffstetler (now in year 13 on the staff) was promoted to associate head coach and former volunteer assistant Micah Posey (in year three) was added to the fulltime staff. Elon added Jesse Wierzbicki as the new volunteer assistant this season.

Solid Competition
Of Elon’s 16 non-conference opponents, seven were selected among the top-three in their conference’s preseason polls (includes divisions). Of those, two – Wright State and Stony Brook – were selected win their conferences.

• Stony Brook – 1st America East
• Wright State – 1st Horizon League
• East Carolina – 3rd American Athletic Conference
• Liberty – 3rd Big South Conference
• Bowling Green –3rd Mid-American Conference (East)
• North Carolina – 3rd ACC (Coastal)
• NC State – 3rd ACC (Atlantic)

Season Openers
In its 112 previous baseball seasons, Elon has gone 65-46 (with one unknown result) in season openers. Under Mike Kennedy, the maroon and gold has gone 12-7 in its first game of the season, including victories in four consecutive openers following a 16-15 decision over Penn State last year.

Home Openers
Under skipper Mike Kennedy, Elon has posted a record of 14-5 in home openers. The Phoenix has won five of its last six home openers.

On Deck
Elon will hit the road for its first time in 2016 on Tuesday, Feb. 23. The Phoenix will make the short trip to UNCG for a 4 p.m. contest.