ELON, N.C. – Elon University baseball evened the CAA series at a game apiece as the Phoenix (12-10, 1-1) edged Hofstra 6-5 on Saturday, March 26 at Latham Park.

"Good to see the guys bounce back and get a win," said head coach Mike Kennedy. "Nothing is easy out there, but we found a way to a get a lead. They kept coming at us and we were able to hold them off. Big time performance by Ben Simon to get us in the win column."

ON THE MOUND
Starter Brian Edgington earned the win and improves to 4-0. The Hatboro, Pa. native struck out four batters through 5.1 innings and was responsible for three runs on five hits and three walks. Simon picked up the save as he struck out a pair looking and added a strikeout swinging in the top of the ninth. Liam Dabagian and Kyle Greenler also made appearances and allowed one run each.

AT THE PLATE
Justin Cassella doubled, scored a run, walked once and added a stolen base in a 2-for-3 day at the plate. Luke Stephenson, Cole Reynolds, Samuel Frontino and Connor Coolahan all hit 1-for-3. Stephenson came around twice, walked twice and swiped a bag. Reynolds doubled, drove in a run and also earned a base on balls. Frontino drove in a run and scored another while Coolahan scored once and also drew a walk. Parker Haskin collected the other hit for the maroon and gold as he finished 1-for-4 with two RBIs and a walk.

THE RUNDOWN
Hofstra was aggressive right out of the gate. With two outs, Hofstra's Brian Morrell doubled to left before Steve Harrington singled to right. The Pride's (9-8, 1-1) third base coach looked to hold up Morrell at third, but the right fielder decided to test Alex Iadisernia's arm and was thrown out at home. The game remained a pitcher's duel until Elon finally scratched across a run in the home half of the fourth inning. Stephenson led off with a hit back up the middle, stole second and reached third on a wild pitch. Hofstra's third baseman was then called for obstruction as Elon took the 1-0 lead.

The Phoenix plated another three runs in the fifth for a 4-0 advantage. Back-to-back singles by Frontino and Coolahan placed runners on the corners. Hofstra was able to retire Charlie Granatell on a pop up to short, but Iadisernia worked a full count to run the bags full. After Stephenson went down swinging, Elon benefitted from another wild pitch for a 2-0 lead. Haskin then brought home Iadisernia and Coolahan with a two-RBI knock to center field.

Hofstra's offense finally woke up in the sixth with three runs on two hits and two errors. The Pride quickly loaded the bases with the help of an Elon fielding error. Edgington fielded a weak ground ball back to him and stepped on the plate for the force at home, but a failed snap throw to first by Stephenson allowed the runner to come in from third. Another walk reloaded the bases before a single through the lefts side plated two runs and cut Elon's lead to 4-3. Cassella quickly put the maroon and gold back up by two, though. The center fielder started off the bottom of the sixth with a two-base hit down the left-field line. Griffin Arnone then moved him up to third on a sacrifice bunt before Cassella tagged up on a Frontino sac fly to center.

Both sides continued to trade runs as Hofstra responded with one run in the seventh. A Jake Liberatore single through the left side allowed Morrell to score from second and close the gap, 5-4. The visitors proceeded to loaded the bases with one out, but were unable to take advantage of the opportunity as Anthony D'Onofrio flew out to center field and Cassella's throw to the plate was in time to double up the runner. Elon responded in the bottom of the inning as Reynolds doubled in Stephenson for the 6-4 score. A Nick Marrero solo home run in the eighth again got the Pride back to within a run at 6-5. In the ninth, Morrell drew a leadoff walk and was pinch ran for by Frank DiMartino, who stole second. However, the Phoenix prevented the tying run from coming in as Simon struck out the next three batters.
 
NOTES
- Elon never trailed in the game.
- The all-time series now stands at 11-6 in favor of the Phoenix.
- Elon turned one double play in the game and has now turned 25 on the season.
- Elon has now turned a double play in 10 straight games.
- The save marks the first of Simon's career.
- It was the fourth multi-hit performance for Cassella.
- Stephenson extends his hit streak to nine game and his reached base streak to 10. Iadisernia has also reached in 10 straight games and Coolahan is at eight games.
- This was the second multi-RBI outing by Haskin.
- Both teams left 10 runners on base.
- Elon is now 3-3 in one-run games this season.
- Cassella is now 9-for-12 on stolen-base attempts while Iadisernia is 4-for-5. 

UP NEXT
The series win is up for grabs as the teams return tomorrow for a 12 p.m. rubber match.