ELON, N.C. – Trailing 3-1 heading to the last of the eighth inning, the Elon University baseball team’s offense erupted for seven runs, including four on the first career home run by Ryne Ogren, as the Phoenix claimed the series from The Citadel Bulldogs with an 8-3 decision on Sunday, March 13.
Ogren ended the day 2-for-4 and drove in four to help lead the Elon (8-8) offense. Kyle Jackson also notched a 2-for-4 performance, scoring twice, driving in two and homering for the eighth time this season.
The Citadel (7-8) saw William Kinney post its lone multi-hit day, as he was 2-for-3 at the plate.
Ryan Conroy (2-1) won for the second straight day. The freshman allowed one run on two hits in 3.0 innings, striking out three. Phoenix starter Mason Daniels allowed two runs on four hits in 5.0 innings. Daniels recorded six strikeouts.
The loss was charged to Johnny Croley (0-1) who allowed two runs on two hits without recording an out.
How It Happened: Down 3-1 entering the bottom of the eighth, Elon began its rally with a leadoff walk to CJ Young. After a Nick Zammarelli single, Jackson ripped a double down the left field line to make it a 3-2 game. Danny Lynch followed with a RBI single up the middle that left runners on the corners. A fourth consecutive hit, this one a single from Tyler McVicar, scored Jackson and Elon claimed a 4-3 advantage. After a hit batter, Ogren turned on a 2-0 offering and laced the pitch over the wall in left-center for Elon’s first grand slam of the season.
The Citadel got out to a 1-0 lead in the second when a run scored on a wild pitch. The Bulldogs made it 2-0 in the fifth on Philip Watcher’s RBI single.
Elon got on the board in the sixth when Jackson belted a no-doubt shot to left-center only to see The Citadel get that run back on a sacrifice fly in the seventh.
Quotable: “I thought we competed on the mound. Conroy’s been really, really good out of that bullpen for us. Offensively, I thought for six innings that we weren’t here. We were swinging at bad pitches and we were early. That’s why, if your pitching keeps you in there and you stay the course, then you can have a big inning like that.” – Elon head coach Mike Kennedy
Notes: Elon improved to 29-22 all-time against The Citadel… Jackson’s hitting streak has now reached 12 games and he has reached base safely in all 16 outings… In his last 15.1 innings, Daniels has struck out 21 hitters.
On Deck: Elon will face its second ranked opponent of the year on Wednesday, March 16. The Phoenix is slated to visit the sixth-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels for a 6 p.m. contest.