ELON, N.C. – The Elon University baseball team made four early runs stand up as the Phoenix completed a three-game Colonial Athletic Association sweep of the visiting Towson Tigers with a 5-2 victory at Latham Park on Sunday afternoon.
Liam O’Regan homered, scored twice and drove in one during a 2-for-3 day for Elon (15-21, 7-7 CAA). Tyler McVicaralso drove in two during a 1-for-4 performance.
Colin Gimblet drove in both runs for Towson (14-23, 5-4) by going 2-for-3 with a double.
Elon starter Jordan Barrett (1-3) earned the first win of his Phoenix career as he allowed two runs on three hits in 5.0 innings. Barrett struck out five. After Ryan Conroy tossed 3.0 hitless frames, Chris Hall closed it out to pick up save number eight of the season.
Kevin Ross (2-4) was charged with the loss after surrendering five runs on six hits in 5.1 innings.
How It Happened: Elon took a 1-0 lead in the first without the benefit of a hit. Nick Zammarelli drew a one-out walk, moved to second on a wild pitch and then headed to third on a deep fly ball. A second wild pitch allowed Zammarelli to race home with the first run of the game.
The Phoenix stretched its advantage to 4-0 in the second. Will Nance got it started with a one-out single. After a hit batter and strike out, Ryne Ogren singled to right-center to plate Nance. With the bases loaded thanks to a walk, McVicar drove home a pair with a single to left.
The Tigers had the makings of a big inning in the third as the first three batters all walked. Towson would only get one back on a Gimblet sacrifice fly as Barrett retired the next two hitters.
Towson cut the Elon lead to 4-2 in the fifth when Gimblet singled home a run, but the Phoenix pushed its lead back to three when O’Regan connected on his fifth home run of the year, this one clearing the scoreboard in left-center.
Notes: Elon has won five consecutive league games for the first time since winning six straight in 2013… The weekend sweep was the second of the year for the maroon and gold and first in CAA play this season… McVicar ran his hitting streak to a career-best eight games.
On Deck: Elon will begin a five-game week on Tuesday, April 19, as the Phoenix heads to High Point for a 6 p.m. game with the Panthers.