Elon Baseball Wins Two in Saturday action at the Chanticleer Classic

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — Lucas Bakker allowed just five hits and struck out six as the Elon Phoenix handed the Minnesota Golden Gophers a 5-2 defeat in the first game of the Chanticleer Classic at TicketReturn.com Field on Saturday morning.

Bakker (2-1), who retired 18 consecutive hitters from the second inning into the ninth, tossed the first complete game of his Elon career. Four of the five hits he allowed came in the first two innings before he settled into a groove. After the first two hitters of the second reached with singles, Bakker allowed just one more base runner (a hit batter) until a one-out single in the top of the ninth.

After falling behind 2-0 on two unearned runs in the top of the first, Elon (9-4) scored one in the last of the first when Sebastian Gomez doubled home Ryan Cooper.

The Phoenix moved in front in the fourth thanks to three runs. With runners on first and second with one out,Nick Zammarelli ripped one to the wall in center for a two-RBI triple. He then scored on a Tucker Norton ground out.

Danny Lynch drove in Elon’s final run with a single in the fifth.

Minnesota fell to 6-4 on the season.

Three Phoenix players had two-hit games – Cooper, Zammarelli and Andy Moore.

The loss went to Alec Crawford who gave up five runs on nine hits in seven innings.

Phoenix Defeats UMBC to Sweep Day at Chanticleer Classic

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — A three-run seventh inning was all the offense that Elon needed as the Phoenix handed UMBC a 3-1 setback in its second game of the day at the Chanticleer Classic on Saturday.

Traiing 1-0, Elon (10-4) got things going with back-to-back singles to center in the seventh from Andy Moore and Nick Zammarelli. After a two-out hit batter loaded the bases, Casey Jones drew a five-pitch walk to force home Moore to tie the game. Zammarelli was then able to walk home when Sebastian Gomez drew a four-pitch walk that put the maroon and gold in front, 2-1. A passed ball then scored the final Phoenix run.

Michael Elefante (4-0) gave up just one run on eight hits in seven innings. The righty fanned six hitters. Ryan Pennell came on to throw the final two innings, striking out two and allowing just one hit, to claim his third save of the year.

Elon pitching did not allow a walk in its two games of the day.

UMBC (0-4) scored its lone run in the second when a two-out single drove home a runner from third.

The loss went to Mac Gill (0-1) who was charged with two runs on seven hits in 6.1 innings.

The Phoenix will wrap up play at the Chanticleer Classic on Sunday with a 2:30 p.m. game against host Coastal Carolina