ELON, N.C. – A four-run fifth-inning propelled the visiting Delaware Blue Hens past the Elon University baseball team by an 11-2 margin in the opener of a three-game Colonial Athletic Association series at Latham Park on Friday night.
Elon (18-20, 8-5 CAA) collected six hits on the night, including a pair from Joe Satterfield. Liam O’Regan picked up the team’s only RBI with his pinch-hit home run.
Doug Trimble led the Delaware (22-14, 8-5) offense with a 4-for-5 night. Trimble finished a triple shy of the cycle, scored three runs and drove in three.
Ryan Conroy (4-4) suffered the loss after giving up five runs on nine hits in 4.2 innings. He struck out four.
The win went to Nick Spadafino (4-1) who allowed one unearned run on four hits and five walks in 5.1 innings.
How It Happened: Delaware was the first to strike, scoring one run with two down in the top of the second inning. After the first two hitters were retired, Calvin Scott walked, moved to second on a single and scored on Brian Mayer’s single to center.
The Blue Hens started the fifth with a double to right-center from Kevin Mohollen who moved to third on Nick Tierno’s bunt single. Doug Trimble followed with a single to left to put Delaware up 2-0. After a sacrifice bunt, Jordan Glover delivered two more runs with a single to center. A fifth run scored as Diaz Nardo doubled home Glover and left two in scoring position with two outs.
Elon was able to get on the board in the last of the fifth when a throw to first on an attempted double play was off the mark, allowing Zach Evers to score to make it a 5-1 game.
Delaware quickly got that one run back as Trimble hit a two-out, solo homer to left in the top of the sixth. The Blue Hens would add two more in the seventh and three in the eighth to wrap up the scoring.
O’Regan added one to Eon’s total when he led off the last of the ninth with a homer to center.
Notes: Elon was just 3-for-15 with runners on base and 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position… The Phoenix stranded 10 runners on the night.
On Deck: The Phoenix and Blue Hens will play a doubleheader on Saturday with the first game beginning at 11 a.m.