HIGH POINT, N.C. – Elon University baseball got back in the win column with a 7-0 win over High Point on Tuesday, March 29 at Truist Point.

"Thought our guys showed a little character tonight," said head coach Mike Kennedy. "After perhaps our worst performance of the year this past weekend, we needed to bounce back. Our energy was great and the guys had a little extra bounce tonight. We pitched really well and Shea Sprague making his first start of the year was outstanding. He continues to impress!"

ON THE MOUND
Sprague picked up the win and improved to 1-0 on the season after holding the Panthers (9-16) to one hit through three complete innings. He added two strikeouts to his totals and did not issue a walk. Jake Nolan tossed two innings in relief, allowing one hit with one walk. Ben Sieracki struck out one, gave up two hits and didn't walk anyone in three innings out of the pen. Also making an appearance was Ben Simon, who recorded two strikeouts with two hits and no walks in one inning of work. 

"All three guys out of the pen were great tonight," continued Kennedy. "I loved that we were able to extend Sieracki some tonight and he handled it very well. Nice to throw up some zeros for nine innings!"

AT THE PLATE
Luke Stephenson drove in two runs with a double, one run, and two walks in a 1-for-3 effort. Alex Iadisernia also doubled, scored once, drove in a run, walked twice and swiped a bag in a 2-for-3 outing. Connor Coolahan finished 2-for-5 with a run and an RBI while Will Vergantino homered in a 1-for-5 day at the plate. Alex Duffey batted 1-for-3 with a run and a base on balls and Charlie Granatell collected Elon's other hit as went 1-for-4 with a double, a walk and one run scored. 

"Offensively we did some good things and had a big inning early that gave us the lead," added Kennedy. "Put together some extra base hits and had a few two-out hits. I thought Coolahan's two-out hit was huge. Still thought we left a few opportunities out there with a runner at third and less than two outs. We have to keep that energy going into practice the next couple of days and get ready for a tough road trip."

THE RUNDOWN
The Phoenix (13-11) opened the scoring with three runs in the top of the third inning. Granatell led off the frame woth a two-base hit to left center, then moved up to third as Coolahan dropped a bunt single. Iadisernia then brought in Granatell with a double to right before Stephenson pushed the lead to 3-0 with a ground-rule double down the left-field line. In the fourth inning, Duffey drew a leadoff walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch and took third on a Carlos Marte sacrifice bunt. Duffey then came home on a Coolahan hit to right field to extend the Elon lead, 4-0.

With two outs and runners in scoring position in the top of the fifth, HPU looked to escape the threat as Duffey hit a ground ball to short. However, the throw to first was off target and the error allowed Stephenson to cross the plate for the 5-0 lead. Justin Cassella then made it 6-0 as he scored from third on a passed ball. Vergantino rounded out the offense with a one-out solo home run in the top of the seventh.
 
NOTES
- This was the first career win for Sprague as well as his first career start. The Hanover, Mass. native also tied his season high in innings thrown.
- Elon has now won two straight against the Panthers and pushed its lead in the all-time series to 129-88.
- Elon and HPU will meet again on April 19 for a 6 p.m. game at Latham Park.
- Sprague, Sieracki and Simon combined for five strikeouts.
- This was the first time since April 11 last season that Elon shut out an opponent. The Phoenix defeated William & Mary 8-0 as Brian Edgington tossed a complete game shutout.
- Cassella has now stolen 11 bases in 14 attempts while Iadisernia is 6-for-7 on stolen-base attempts.
- Sieracki and Nolan both set season highs in innings tossed
- This was the third multi-hit game of the season for Coolahan and the ninth for Iadisernia.
- Vergantino's long ball was his second of the season as well as the second of his career.
- Elon turned one double play in the game.
- Elon retired the Panthers in order in the first, third, fourth and seventh innings.

UP NEXT
Elon continues conference play with three games at James Madison this weekend, April 1-3.