ELON, N.C. – A five-run fourth inning and 18 strikeouts by its pitching staff lifted the Elon University baseball team to a 10-3 victory over the La Salle Explorers on Sunday afternoon at Latham Park. The win gave the Phoenix a three-game sweep of the series.
Elon (3-5) got solo home runs from Nick Zammarelli (1-for-5, two runs, one RBI) and Kyle Jackson (2-for-4, two runs, two RBI) to help pace the offensive attack. Tyler McVicar (2-for-3, one run, double) and Will Nance (2-for-4, one run) both drove in a pair.
For La Salle (0-7), both Joey Ravert and Drew Jarmuz drove in a run.
In his second career start, Elon’s Mason Daniels (1-1) came out victorious. Daniels allowed one unearned run on just one hit and struck out nine in 5.0 innings.
Jorge Jimenez (0-2) was charged with three runs (two earned) on four hits in 3.0 innings to take the loss.
How It Happened: Already leading 3-1 entering the last of the fourth inning, Elon’s offense erupted for five runs. Liam O’Regan got it started with a single and then was safe at second when a throw there on a Ryne Ogren grounder was thrown wild. After Travis Docimo was hit by a pitch to load the bases, CJ Young drove home a run with a single through the right side. Jackson forced home a second run when he drew a one-out walk with the bases loaded before McVicar drilled a double to center to score two more. Nance then singled to right to score the fifth run of the inning and give the maroon and gold an 8-1 advantage.
Zammarelli hit his second home run in as many days to lead off the sixth to make it 9-2 before Jackson drilled his sixth of the year in the last of the eighth to extend Elon’s lead to 10-3.
Quotable: “We threw a lot of strikes. I felt like on the mound we made some strides. We finished hitters. We had some timely hits and did some really good things. Overall, I thought we played pretty well.” – Elon head coach Mike Kennedy
Notes: Elon improved to 9-0 all-time against La Salle … Zammarelli extended his hitting streak to 14 games, matching a career-long … Elon struck out 15 or more hitters for the first time since fanning 16 opponents in a May 7, 2013 game against North Carolina A&T … Phoenix pitchers struck out at least one batter in every inning … Seven of Elon’s nine starters recorded at least one hit.
On Deck: Elon will travel to East Carolina for a 4 p.m. contest on Wednesday, March 2.