NEWARK, Del. – The Elon University baseball team hit three home runs and Kyle Brnovich struck out 10 hitters over 7.0 innings as the Phoenix took game one of a three-game Colonial Athletic Association series from the Delaware Blue Hens by a 6-2 margin on Friday, May 4.
Elon (28-18, 10-6 CAA) got solo homers from Garrett Stonehouse, James Venuto and Matt Oldham to lead the offensive charge.
Three of Delaware’s seven hits came from Kyle Baker.
Brnovich (6-2) allowed two runs on five hits to earn the win. With his 10 strikeouts, the sophomore climbed to sixth on the program’s career chart with 227. He surpassed Ken Ferrer (219), Nathan Holcomb (224) and Herbie Johnson (225) with Friday’s performance.
Delaware (23-22, 7-9 CAA) starter Kyle Hinton (5-5) took the loss after being charged with three runs (two earned) on six hits in 4.2 innings.
How It Happened: The Blue Hens struck first, scoring a pair of first-inning runs on a Nick Patten single and Tyler Callender fielder’s choice.
Elon tied the game up in the third. Stonehouse sent the first pitch of the inning deep over the tall fence in left for his second homer of the season to make it 2-1. With two down, Ryne Ogren reached on an infield single and headed to third on a Hayden Platt single. Venuto followed with a single to left to knot the score at two.
The Phoenix went in front for good in the next inning when Liam O’Regan scored on a passed ball.
Elon tacked on solo runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings to create separation. In the seventh, Venuto led off with by sending a 2-2 pitch over the fence in left for his fourth homer of the year, while Oldham connected on a 1-0 pitch with two outs in the eighth for his second long ball of his rookie campaign.
Notes: Elon hit three homers in a game for the third time this season… The Phoenix has homered in four consecutive contests… With 11 strikeouts on Friday, the Phoenix pitching staff now has 476 on the year and is just 15 shy of matching the program record of 491 set a year ago… Elon 28 victories are the most for the team since winning 34 games in 2013.
On Deck: Elon and Delaware will meet for game two of the series on Saturday, May 5, at Bob Hannah Stadium. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.