Elon Baseball Opens Road Trip at High Point

ELON, N.C. – The Elon University baseball team will begin a four-game road swing by visiting the High Point Panthers for a 6 p.m. game on Tuesday, April 3.

GAME NOTES

Fans can watch the game through a stream from the Big South Network.

ALUMNI WEEKEND
The Elon University baseball team will welcome back former players for an Alumni Weekend when the Phoenix takes on Hartford in a three-game series April 20-22, at Latham Park. Over the course of the weekend, the teams from 2006, 2008 and 2009 teams will be recognized, however, Alumni Weekend is open to all former Elon players from any era. For more information, or to register for the weekend, click HERE.

PITCHING MATCHUP
Elon: So. LH Owen Lorenz (2-2, 6.31)
High Point: Sr. LH Jordan Sergent (1-1, 5.56)

THE SERIES
Elon has met High Point more often than any other opponent. Tuesday’s meeting marks the 212th all-time contest between the two programs. Elon leads the series by a 125-86 margin after the two teams split their two games a year ago. The two first met in 1926 with the maroon and gold earning 10-5 and 9-3 victories.

ABOUT HIGH POINT
While only one game over .500 at 14-13 entering Tuesday’s game, the Panthers are 6-3 in Big South Conference play.

As a team, HPU is hitting .281 with 176 runs scored (6.5 per game), 45 doubles, eight triples, 21 home runs and 38 stolen bases. Hunter Lee paces the Panthers with a .358 batting average, 25 runs scored, nine doubles and 23 RBI.

On the mound, the Panthers have a 4.86 team ERA and have surrendered 155 runs (5.7 per game) on 209 hits. Over 240.2 innings, HPU pitchers have recorded 250 strikeouts and held opponents to a .237 batting average.

HEAD COACH MIKE KENNEDY
Now in his 22nd season as the head coach at his alma mater, Mike Kennedy (’91) is the winningest coach in program history. He has compiled a career record of 694-536-3 and has led his program to five regular season titles, three conference tournament championships and seven NCAA postseason appearances.

RACKING UP THE K’S
Through the first 28 games of the season, the Elon pitching staff has put up some impressive strikeout totals. Three pitchers have eclipsed the 10-K mark in individual outings as sophomore George Kirby (11 Ks on opening day,11 at Georgia Southern and 10 vs. Appalachian State), Robbie Welhaf (12 in a relief outing against Radford) and Kyle Brnovich (11 vs. Marshall, 12 vs. Appalachian State, 13 vs. Rider and 14 vs. Charleston) have all accomplished the feat.

As a staff on the year, the Phoenix has recorded 299 strikeouts on the year, an average of 10.7 per game.

PHOENIX TOP’S IN THE NATION IN BALANCING POWER
This season, Elon has hit 22 home runs. A total of 13 different players have gone deep for the Phoenix, the most in the nation. Below is a list of team’s with the most players who have homered this year.

13 – Elon
12 – Arkansas, FAU, Mercer, South Carolina
11 – Davidson, Georgia Tech, Vanderbilt, Wichita State
10 – Ohio, NC State, Western Kentucky

ELON’S IRONMAN
Elon junior shortstop Ryne Ogren has been a mainstay in the Phoenix lineup since his arrival on campus. The Devon, Pa., native has now started 117 consecutive games dating back to his freshman campaign. Ogren has started all 28 games this year, started all 56 games a year ago and started the final 33 contests in 2016. The last time Ogren did not appear in Elon’s starting lineup was March 22, 2016 against High Point.

THAT’S TIGHT
Elon’s first seven games of the season were decided by a combined eight runs. The Phoenix played four one-run games in its first five outings. The last time that Elon had four one-run decisions in its first five games of the season was 1934. That year, the team opened with four consecutive one-run contests.

On the year, Elon has played in 11 one-run games, going 5-6, and an additional seven two-run contests.

BRNOVICH PICKS UP LEAGUE, NATIONAL HONORS
After allowing one run on two hits and striking out a season-high 14 hitters in a win over #30 Charleston, Elon sophomore right-handed pitcher Kyle Brnovich was named both the CAA co-Pitcher of the Week and one of Collegiate Baseball’s National Players of the Week on April 2. It marked the third CAA Pitcher of the Week honor, and second Collegiate Baseball award, for his career.

ON DECK
Elon’s four-game road trip continues this weekend with a three-game CAA series at Northeastern. Game one is scheduled for a 2:30 p.m. first pitch on Friday, April 6.