Elon Baseball Offense Erupts, Elefante Tosses Complete Game in Win Over James Madison

ELON, N.C. – Michael Elefante threw the first complete game of his career and the Elon offense erupted for a season-high 17 runs as the Phoenix dispatched James Madison 17-3 on Saturday afternoon at Latham Park. The victory clinched a series win for the Phoenix in its first-ever Colonial Athletic Association set.

Elefante (2-0) was dazzling in the victory for Elon (10-11, 2-0 CAA). He scattered nine hits, walked only one and matched his career high with six strikeouts while allowing three runs (two earned). It was the first complete game thrown by a Phoenix pitcher this season. Elefante needed just 110 pitches, 77 of them strikes, in the effort. At one point, the junior righty retired 10 consecutive, and 14 out of 15, James Madison (9-10, 0-2) hitters.

Offensively, Elon turned a 1-1 game into a big lead in the fourth by scoring six runs with two outs. With the bases loaded and two away, Andy Moore worked a walk to force home the go-ahead run. That was followed by a two-RBI single to right by Quinn Bower. A JMU error allowed another Phoenix run to cross the plate to make it a 5-1 contest. Casey Jones then ripped a single through the right side of the Dukes’ infield to drive in two more.

The Phoenix offense kept its foot on the gas in the fifth, scoring another three runs with two outs. Moore drove in the first with a single before Jones drove home another two with a single.

With Elon leading 11-1 going to the eighth, JMU managed to score two runs. The first scored from third on a single, the second came home on Elon’s lone error of the day. The Phoenix came right back, however, with its second six-run attack of the game. After Kory Shumate singled to lead off the last of the eighth, JMU pitchers issued four consecutive walks, the last two earning RBI for David Lowery and Danny Lynch. Jones then upped his RBI total to a career-best six with a two-run double. A Ryan Cooper single and Nick Zammarelli fly ball scored the final two tallies.

Five different Elon players had multi-hit days at the plate – Cooper (4-for-6), Jones (3-for-6), Bower (2-for-4), Shumate (2-for-2) and Austin Leeney (2-for-5). Eight of the nine starters had at least one hit.

The loss went to JMU starter Eric Yankey (1-1) who was removed after 3.2 innings. He allowed three runs on four hits.

Elon will look to complete the three-game series sweep on Sunday as the Phoenix and Dukes play at 1:30 p.m.