Elon Baseball Completes League Sweep of Hofstra

ELON, N.C. – The Elon University pitching staff racked up 15 strikeouts and Zach Evers homered and drove in a pair of runs as the Phoenix completed a three-game Colonial Athletic Association sweep of the Hofstra Pride with a 5-3 victory at Latham Park on Sunday.

Box Score | Play-by-Play

Evers finished the day 2-for-4, while Matt Oldham went 1-for-3 and scored a pair of runs for Elon (20-16, 7-5 CAA).

The win went to Owen Lorenz (4-2) who threw 3.2 shutout innings in relief. Lorenz struck out five and allowed two hits. Starter Ryan Conroy went 4.0 innings and gave up one run on three his, while striking out a season-high eight hitters. Sean Byrnes threw 1.1 innings and was charged with two run and struck out a pair.

For Hofstra (14-14, 4-8 CAA), Matt Siedem was 2-for-2 and scored two of the three Pride runs.

Starter Teddy Cillis (0-3) took the loss after giving up four runs (two earned) on four hits. He struck out five.

How It Happened: With two outs in the last of the second inning, Oldham singled up the middle. Josh Broughton followed with a single to right that was misplayed, allowing the ball to roll all the way to the wall. On the error, both Oldham and Broughton scored to give the Phoenix an early 2-0 advantage.

After Hofstra made it 2-1 on a bases-loaded walk in the top of the third, Elon tacked on one in the bottom half on a bases-loaded wild pitch before Evers made it 4-1 with an RBI single in the fourth.

The Pride cut its deficit to 4-3 with a pair of sixth-inning runs. With runners on the corners and two outs, Kevin O’Connor and Vito Friscia followed with back-to-back, RBI singles.

Elon put its final tally on the board when Evers hit a 1-2 pitch over the right field wall with one out in the bottom of the seventh.

Notes: Elon pitchers have combined to record 47 strikeouts in the series, the most in a three-game set this year… Ryne Ogren has now reached safely in 20 consecutive games… Lorenz has won his last four decisions… Hofstra fell to 0-6 all-time at Latham Park… The Pride has now scored three or fewer runs in five straight outing.

On Deck: Elon will host a pair of midweek games against in-state competition. The Phoenix will welcome in Campbell on Tuesday before hosting North Carolina A&T on Wednesday. Both games are scheduled for 6 p.m. starts at Latham Park. Gates will open at 5 p.m.