Elon Baseball Offense Erupts in Victory Over Rider

ELON, N.C. – The Elon University baseball team accomplished something it had not done since 2013 as the Phoenix offense erupted for a 21-1 victory over the visiting Rider Broncs at Latham Park on Saturday afternoon.

Box Score | Play-by-Play

Elon’s 21 runs were the most by the team since a 24-12 victory over No. 8 NC State on March 5, 2013. Leading the way for the Phoenix (10-9) was Garrett Stonehouse who had a career day, going 5-for-6 with four runs scored, two doubles, a home run and five RBI. Elon also got homers from Cam Devanney (3-for-5, three runs scored, three RBI) and Tyler Stanley (1-for-1, two runs scored, two RBI).

George Kirby (3-1) tossed 6.0 shutout innings and struck out five to pick up the win.

For Rider (5-13), Riley Mihalik was 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and scored the lone run.

After being charged with 11 runs on 12 hits in just 4.0 innings, Rider starter Pete Soporowski (1-2) was saddled with the loss.

How It Happened: Elon began its offensive onslaught in the second inning, scoring five times. The inning began with a Devanney single before Stonehouse delivered a hit-and-run single to put runners on the corners with one out. Joe Satterfield got the scoring started with a single up the middle. After a walk loaded the bases, Josh Broughton plated a pair with a single through the left side before Zach Evers tripled home the final two of the frame.

The Phoenix lead grew to 8-0 in the third thanks to RBI singles from Satterfield, Hayden Platt and Broughton and then to 11-0 in the last of the fourth on a two-RBI double from Stonehouse and a Satterfield RBI double.

Devanney capped a four-run fifth by hitting his third homer of the year, a three-run shot to left as the Phoenix continued to pound out hits.

Elon’s lead grew to 17-0 on Stanley’s two-run homer to left in the sixth, the first bomb of his career. The maroon and gold pushed it to 21-0 in the eighth thanks in part to Stonehouse’s first home run of the year, a three-run shot.

Rider was able to avoid the shutout by scoring once in the ninth. Mihalik led off with a double down the right field line, moved to third on a ground out and then scored on a Kyle Johnson ground out.

Notes: Stonehouse became the first Elon player with five or more hits in a game since Nick Zammarelli had five in a 2016 win over UNCG… Evers tripled twice, becoming the first Phoenix player to do that since Donny Jobe had two in a 2008 win over Georgia Southern… Elon’s 24 marked the first 20-plus hit game for the team since a 23-hit performance in a 2015 victory over Penn State… The Phoenix had six two-out RBI and went 11-for-21 (.524) with runners in scoring position… Elon pitchers have limited opponents to two runs or less in their last six games.

On Deck: Elon and Rider will close out the three-game set on Sunday, March 18, with a 1:30 p.m. contest at Latham Park.