ELON, N.C. – The first road test of the season for the Elon University baseball squad is scheduled to come on Tuesday, Feb. 23, as the Phoenix makes the short trip to Greensboro to take on the UNCG Spartans at 4 p.m.
Live Coverage
Fans can follow the Phoenix via live stats by going to the Elon baseball schedule page at elonphoenix.com. Twitter updates will be posted on the @ElonScores account throughout the game.
The Series
Elon and UNCG have met 49 times with the maroon and gold coming out victorious in 34 of those contests. The Phoenix won both games against the Spartans last year, including an 11-9 decision in Greensboro in April.
Pitching Matchup
Elon: Fr. RH Ryan Conroy (0-0, 20.25 ERA, 1.1 IP, 1 BB, 2 K)
UNCG: Sr. RH Keaton Haack (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 2.0 IP, 2 BB, 2 K)
A Look at UNCG
UNCG opened the season by taking two-of-three from High Point. The Spartans took the first two games of the series by scores of 9-3 and 13-5 before falling 15-5 in Sunday’s finale. Dillon Stewart has homered twice and driven in four runs, while Michael Goss has one home run and a team-high five RBI to lead UNCG.
Mr. Jackson
In game two of the year against Wright State, outfielder Kyle Jackson belted three home runs (two three-run shots and a solo homer). It marked the first time since May 29, 2009 that an Elon player homered three times in a game. The last time was by Bennett Davis against Southern Miss in the Atlanta Regional.
Preseason Prognostications
In its second season in the CAA, the league’s coaches selected the Phoenix to tie for third in the preseason poll. Elon and Northeastern both received 45 points in the poll and the maroon and gold earned one first-place vote. Junior Nick Zammarelli was an honorable mention preseason all-conference selection.
A New Face
After 12 years of not having any changes to the fulltime coaching staff, Elon has a little bit of a new look in 2016. Associate head coach Greg Starbuck, who had spent 17 seasons in the maroon and gold, departed the Phoenix staff for a position at Clemson last summer. Former assistant coach Robbie Huffstetler (now in year 13 on the staff) was promoted to associate head coach and former volunteer assistant Micah Posey (in year three) was added to the fulltime staff. Elon added Jesse Wierzbicki as the new volunteer assistant this season.
Solid Competition
Of Elon’s 16 non-conference opponents, seven were selected among the top-three in their conference’s preseason polls (includes divisions). Of those, two – Wright State and Stony Brook – were selected win their conferences.
• Stony Brook – 1st America East
• Wright State – 1st Horizon League
• East Carolina – 3rd American Athletic Conference
• Liberty – 3rd Big South Conference
• Bowling Green –3rd Mid-American Conference (East)
• North Carolina – 3rd ACC (Coastal)
• NC State – 3rd ACC (Atlantic)
On Deck
Elon will return home to Latham Park this weekend for a three-game series against the La Salle Explorers. Friday’s first pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. The two will then meet Saturday at 2:30 p.m. and Sunday at 1:00 p.m.