Elon Baseball Heads North for CAA Set at Towson

ELON, N.C. – Looking to remain near the top of the Colonial Athletic Association standings, the Elon University baseball team will hit the road for a three-game league series at Towson this weekend. The Phoenix and Tigers will open the set with a 3 p.m. game on Friday, April 14. Game two is set for Saturday at 2 p.m. and the finale is slated for 1 p.m. on Easter Sunday.

GAME NOTES

Pitching Matchup
Friday – Elon: Fr. RH George Kirby (1-3, 4.75 ERA) vs. Towson: So. RH Dean Stramara (2-3, 5.01 ERA)
Saturday – Elon: Sr. LH Jordan Barrett (2-2, 5.00 ERA) vs. Towson: Sr. RH Kevin Ross (0-3, 3.63 ERA)
Sunday – Elon: Fr. RH Kyle Brnovich (3-2, 2.62 ERA) vs. Towson: Jr. RH Michael Adams (2-3, 4.62 ERA)

Series History
In 12 all-time meetings against Towson, Elon has posted a 10-2 record. Since joining the CAA, Elon is 5-1 against the Tigers with the lone loss coming in game three at Towson in 2015. Elon swept the series at Latham Park last season, including a pair of one-run victories. The two first met on March 22, 2001 with Elon picking up a 5-4 win at home.

CAA, National Recognition for Brnovich
Following a 15-strikeout performance in a win at William & Mary, freshman Kyle Brnovich was honored as the co-CAA Rookie of the Week and as one of Collegiate Baseball’s National Players of the Week on April 10. It was the second straight week that Brnovich garnered league accolades.

15 Ks
In a win over William & Mary, freshman Kyle Brnovich struck out 15 hitters in 8.1 innings of work. It marked the most Ks by an Elon pitcher since Steven Hensley fanned 16 against Davidson on March 30, 2007.

Scoreless Streak
Kyle Brnovich recently had a stretch of 20.2 scoreless innings. Brnovich gave up one run in the sixth inning of his March 19 start against VMI and did not allow another run until the start of the fifth inning of his April 9 start at William & Mary.

Nearing (and Passing) 100
Three Phoenix players have passed or are closing in on the 100-hit mark for their Elon careers. Sophmore Ryne Ogren reached the 100-hit mark with a double in game one at William & Mary. He now has 106 hits. Senior Kyle Jackson notched his 100th hit in an Elon uniform against High Point. Senior Kory Shumate has 78 hits in 112 career contests. Both Jackson and Shumate transferred to Elon. Jackson is in his second year with the team, while Shumate is playing his third season with the Phoenix.

On the mound, senior Jordan Barrett (in his second season in the maroon and gold) picked up the 100th strikeout of his Elon career by striking out the first batter he faced in game two against James Madison. He’s now at 116 career Ks. Senior Nick Beaulac (in his third year with the team) posted his 100th career strikeout against #20 Wake Forest.