In his second career start at Elon University, junior pitcher Lucas Bakker threw seven innings with nine strikeouts, only allowing a single run, leading the Phoenix to an 11-1 victory over Wagner College (0-2) Feb. 22 at Latham Park.
Bakker (1-0) was in control on the mound and the Seahawk hitters couldn’t handle what he was bringing. He allowed just eight hits and one run, which came in the first inning, and didn’t walk a single batter to give him his first win for the Phoenix. Other Elon pitching closed out the final innings retiring all six batters it faced.
“I feel really good. It’s just about pitching the contact, not necessarily getting the Ks,” said Bakker. “I’m trying to get that pitch count low and pitch as many innings as I can to put my team in the right spot to win.”
Elon head coach Mike Kennedy praised Bakker’s start to his Elon career.
“He’s off to a good start and that’s why he’s pitching Fridays,” Kennedy said. “He’s got good stuff and he competes.”
Wagner opened the gates early, scoring in the top of the first on a wild pitch that brought in Nick Mascelli. That was the lone earned run for the Seahawks as they struggled to get runners on base.
“Just focusing before the game is the key,” Bakker said. “And trying to get strike one. It’s probably the most important pitch you can throw. Getting a strike and hitting your spots and staying mentally focused.”
The Phoenix immediately struck back, tallying three runs in the first inning. After a one-out single by senior Sebastian Gomez, a hit batter and a walk, the bases were loaded. Then junior Casey Jones came up to the plate and shelled a double through the right-center field gap bringing in two runs. Jones went 3-for-4 on the day with three RBI. Elon’s third run came from junior Tyler McVicar on a sacrifice fly.
“Our main focus this year is offense and we’re working hard,” Jones said. “We’re going to have to be good offensively this year. Our offense is our strong suit right now and we’re just going to have to keep rolling and keep hitting the ball well.”
Elon extended its lead in the fourth inning, scoring four runs to go up 7-1. An error and a sacrifice bunt were followed by junior Quinn Bower’s single that put runners on first and third. Then Gomez stepped up and hit an infield single that brought in two runs, as a bad throw past the third baseman brought Bower in to score. Jones and sophomore Danny Lynch added RBI singles to round up the scoring in the fourth.
The Phoenix took the game away in the seventh inning with another four runs. With two outs and the pressure on, Elon sprayed six hits, with RBI singles from freshmen D.J. Paone and Andy Moore and a two-RBI double by Bower. The bench was thick when it came to making contact at the plate and that seems to be a key for Elon’s success this season.
The offense lost some key players from last year’s lineup that put up some great numbers for Elon in the past. But this year’s players seem to be stepping up to the plate and putting runs on the board.
“When guys leave, other players assume roles, and you have to step into those roles, whatever they may be,” Kennedy said. “We also have some young guys who have some pop in their bats. Down the line it’s probably a deeper line-up.”
The Phoenix is rotating a lot of freshmen into the line-up, more so than previous years, and those young guys are proving they deserve to be there.
“We’re not doing it for any reason other than they’ve earned it,” Kennedy said. “They’re playing because they’ve beat somebody out. They’re talented and we get to give them a chance to get some experience before conference play.”
According to Kennedy, the key to sweeping this series is a quality start and key at-bats with guys on base and in scoring position.
And that’s what the Phoenix will look to do as it heads into the final game of the series at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 23 at Latham Park.