Elon to Host #30 College of Charleston in CAA Baseball Series

ELON, N.C. – Last weekend, the Elon University baseball team opened up Colonial Athletic Association play on the road, winning two of its three games at James Madison. This weekend, the Phoenix returns home to host 30th-rated College of Charleston in a key three-game CAA series. The set opens on Friday, March 30, with a 6 p.m. first pitch at Latham Park. The two will meet again on Saturday at 4 p.m. before closing out the series at 1:30 p.m on Sunday.

GAME NOTES

Friday’s game will be streamed live on Phoenix All-Access. Taylor Durham will also have a live call of all three games on WSJS 104.5 FM and 1200 AM with the pregame show beginning 15 minutes prior to first pitch. The radio broadcast can also be heard through elonphoenix.com and on the TuneIn app.

When gates open at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, children will be allowed to search Latham Park for Easter Eggs hidden around the stadium.

PITCHING MATCHUP
Elon
So. RH Kyle Brnovich (3-0, 1.59)
So. RH George Kirby (4-1, 1.67)
Jr. RH Ryan Conroy (1-2, 2.76)

Charleston
Jr. LH Evan Sisk (5-1, 2.13)
So. RH Griffin McLarty (5-0, 1.51)
So. RH Jakob Frishmuth (4-1, 3.48)

THE SERIES
Former Southern Conference rivals, Elon and Charleston now battle as members of the CAA. The two have met a total of 51 times with the Cougars holding a 31-20 advantage in the all-time series. The two first met in 1998 with Elon claiming game one of a three-game series in South Carolina. The two met four times a year ago. Elon won one of the three regular-season games and the Cougars ended the Phoenix’s season with a 1-0 game in the CAA Tournament in Wilmington, N.C.

ABOUT COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON
Charleston enters the weekend ranked 30th in the NCBWA national poll after beginning the year with a 20-6 mark. The Cougars are 3-0 in CAA action after sweeping William & Mary last weekend.

The Cougars lead the CAA with a .298 batting average, 166 runs scored (6.4 per game), 51 doubles and 29 home runs. Dupree Hart paces the squad with a .390 average and nine doubles, while Danny Wondrack’s nine homers lead the conference.

On the mound, CofC also leads the league with a 2.56 ERA. Charleston has surrendered a total of 84 runs (3.2 per game) and the staff has struck out 194 hitters in 232.0 innings. Opponents have been held to a .222 batting average.

HEAD COACH MIKE KENNEDY
Now in his 22nd season as the head coach at his alma mater, Mike Kennedy (’91) is the winningest coach in program history. He has compiled a career record of 692-535-3 and has led his program to five regular season titles, three conference tournament championships and seven NCAA postseason appearances.

RACKING UP THE K’S
Through the first 25 games of the season, the Elon pitching staff has put up some impressive strikeout totals. Three pitchers have eclipsed the 10-K mark in individual outings as sophomore George Kirby (11 Ks on opening day,11 at Georgia Southern and 10 vs. Appalachian State), Robbie Welhaf (12 in a relief outing against Radford) and Kyle Brnovich (11 vs. Marshall, 12 vs. Appalachian State and 13 vs. Rider) have all accomplished the feat.

As a staff on the year, the Phoenix has recorded 271 strikeouts on the year, an average of 10.8 per game.

ELON’S IRONMAN
Elon junior shortstop Ryne Ogren has been a mainstay in the Phoenix lineup since his arrival on campus. The Devon, Pa., native has now started 114 consecutive games dating back to his freshman campaign. Ogren has started all 25 games this year, started all 56 games a year ago and started the final 33 contests in 2016. The last time Ogren did not appear in Elon’s starting lineup was March 22, 2016 against High Point.

THAT’S TIGHT
Elon’s first seven games of the season were decided by a combined eight runs. The Phoenix played four one-run games in its first five outings. The last time that Elon had four one-run decisions in its first five games of the season was 1934. That year, the team opened with four consecutive one-run contests.

On the year, Elon has played in 11 one-run games, going 5-6, and an additional five two-run contests.

ON DECK
Following the series with College of Charleston, Elon will take to the road for four straight outings. The first of those will come on Tuesday, April 3, as the Phoenix visits High Point for a 6 p.m. game.