Elon Men’s Baseball Phoenix Grabs Two From The Citadel to Complete SoCon Series Sweep

ELON, N.C. — After rain washed out the scheduled action for Saturday, the Elon baseball team came back on Sunday and swept a doubleheader from The Citadel by scores of 14-7 and 4-3 on Sunday afternoon. The two victories gave the Phoenix a three-game sweep of the Southern Conference series.

With the wins, Elon now sits at 17-10 overall and 6-3 in the SoCon. The Citadel fell to 12-17, 1-8 – its worst start ever in SoCon play.

GAME ONE
After three scoreless innings in game one, the Phoenix grabbed a 1-0 lead in the last of the fourth when Tyler McVicar drilled his second home run of the season over the wall in center to lead off the frame.

In the next inning, Elon put up a six-spot to increase its edge to 7-0. Ryan Cooper started things off with a bunt single and moved all the way to third on an errant pickoff throw to first. A Casey Jones single plated Cooper. With Jones at second following a stolen base, Sebastian Gomez singled to right-center to pick up an RBI. Elon’s fourth consecutive hit came from Chris Hall who singled through the left side. Back-to-back walks forced home another run as the Phoenix’s lead moved to 4-0. The first out was made on a fielder’s choice that also scored a run and left men on the corners. Another stolen base was followed by a Bulldog error that allowed Elon’s fifth run of the frame. The final marker came on another fielder’s choice.

The Citadel tried to climb back in to the contest with a four-run sixth that included a two-run homer from Tyler Griffin, but the Phoenix came right back with five in the last of the sixth. Two of the five scored on Cooper’s double down the left field line.

The rest of the scoring came in the eighth with The Citadel scoring three runs and the Phoenix two.

Michael Elefante kept his perfect record intact as he moved to 5-0 on the year. He went 5.2 innings and allowed three runs on eight hits.

The loss went to James Reeves (3-2). Reeves gave up four runs on seven hits in four innings.

In the win, Elon set a season-high with 19 hits and matched a season-high with six stolen bases. Both Jones and Blaine Bower swiped two bases. Cooper ended the day 4-for-6 with two runs and three RBI.

GAME TWO
Elon quickly jumped in front again in game two. In the last of the first, Jones belted a 3-2 pitch over the wall in left for his third homer of the year.

After The Citadel tied it up on a sacrifice fly in the second, the Phoenix moved back in front, 2-1, when Cooper singled home Andy Moore in the third.

The score remained 2-1 until the sixth when the Bulldogs evened it back up only to see Elon answer with two in the bottom half. In Elon’s half, the rally began with two outs when Chris King homered to left. With men on first and second, Moore grounded one back up the middle to make it a 4-2 contest.

The Citadel’s final marker came in the seventh after an Elon error.

The win was earned by Jake Stalzer (4-2) who went six and gave up three runs (two earned) on seven hits. Matt Harris tossed 1.2 scoreless frames before Ryan Pennell came on to record the final four outs to garner his seventh save of the season.

Zach Sherrill (3-1) took the loss after he was charged with two runs on three hits in one inning out of the pen.

For Elon, Jones had hits in both ends of the doubleheader to extend his hitting streak to a career-best 13 games.

The Phoenix will play two home games this week before returning to league play next weekend. On Tuesday, Elon hosts North Carolina A&T at 6:30 p.m. The maroon and gold will then welcome in Campbell for a 6:30 p.m. game on Wednesday.