Elon Baseball Hosts Northeastern to Open CAA Play

ELON, N.C. – After 21 non-conference games, the Elon University baseball team will open up Colonial Athletic Association play by hosting the Northeastern Huskies for a three-game series at Latham Park this weekend. The set will open with a 6 p.m. game on Friday, March 24 and will continue on Saturday at 4 p.m. The series finale, originally scheduled for 2 p.m., has been moved up to a 12:30 p.m. first pitch.

GAME NOTES

Tickets
Tickets are available for $5 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under. Tickets can be purchased at elonphoenix.com or at the ticket windows at Latham Park beginning one hour prior to first pitch.

Parking
Free parking for baseball games at Latham Park is available in the Ingold Parking Lot adjacent to the stadium. Parking is also available across the stree in the Hunt Softball Parking Lot.

Latham Park Regulations
• Elon reserves the right to remove from Latham Park anyone who is intoxicated, using foul or abusive language or behaving inappropriately.
• In accordance with Elon University policies, alcohol and tobacco products are prohitbited in Latham Park.
• Per league policy, artificial noisemakers of any kind are prohibited in Latham Park.
• In accordance with Elon University policy, pets are not premitted within the gates of Latham Park. Only service animals may be brought into the facility.
• Umbrellas are prohibited inside Latham Park.
• Only student-athletes, officials and authorized personnel are permitted onto the field.
• Gates open 60 minutes prior to first pitch.

Baseball Alumni Weekend
The Elon University baseball team will welcome back former players for an Alumni Weekend when the Phoenix takes on CAA foe James Madison March 31-April 2. Over the course of the weekend, the teams from 1985, 1987, 1989, 1997 and 2002 will be recognized, however, Alumni Weekend is open to all former Elon players from any era.

For more information on the event, or to register for the weekend, click HERE.

Pitching Matchups
Friday – Elon: So. RH Ryan Conroy (3-0, 1.95 ERA) vs. Northeastern: Sr. RH Mike Fitzgerald (1-1, 5.02 ERA)
Saturday – Elon: Jr. LH Jordan Barrett (1-2, 6.10 ERA) vs. RFr. RH Kyle Murphy (0-2, 9.00 ERA)
Sunday – Elon: Fr. RH Kyle Brnovich (1-2, 4.12 ERA) vs. Jr. RH Brian Christian (2-0, 4.12 ERA)

Series History
Elon and Northeastern will be playing the third series all-time between the two this weekend. Elon holds a slim 4-3 edge in the series. The Phoenix won two of the three regular-season meetings in each of the past two years. The Huskies also earned a win in the 2016 CAA Tournament in Mt. Pleasant, S.C.

Preseason Prognostications
In its third season in the CAA, the league’s coaches selected the Phoenix to finish fifth in the preseason poll. Senior CJ Young was honored as a preseason all-CAA selection.

1. UNCW (8)
2. William & Mary (1)
3. College of Charleston
4. Delaware
5. Elon
6. James Madison
7. Northeastern
8. Towson
9. Hofstra

Oh Captain, My Captain
Head coach Mike Kennedy announced prior to the 2017 season that five players will serve as team captains this year. Seniors Jordan Barrett, Danny Crowe and Will Nance will be joined by sophomore Ryne Ogren and red-shirt freshman Cam Devanney as the Phoenix captains in 2017.

League Openers
In the 18 seasons in which Elon has been a member of a conference under head coach Mike Kennedy, the maroon and gold has gone 14-4 in league openers. The Phoenix is 1-1 in CAA openers. Elon also went 10-1 in SoCon openers, 2-2 in Big South openers and 1-0 in South Atlantic openers under Kennedy.

Nearing 100
Three Phoenix players are closing in on the 100-hit mark for their Elon careers. Sophmore Ryne Ogren is the closest with 87 hits in 73 career games. Senior Kyle Jackson has 82 hits in 75 career games and senior Kory Shumate has 74 hits in 105 career contests. Both Jackson and Shumate transferred to Elon. Jackson is in his second year with the team, while Shumate is playing his third season with the Phoenix.

On the mound, two pitchers are nearing 100 career strikeouts. Senior Nick Beaulac (in his third year with the team) has 99 career Ks in 93.2 innings. Senior Jordan Barrett (in his second season with the maroon and gold) has 95 Ks in 96.1 innings.