The Elon University baseball team took the latter end of a two-game series with the University of Cincinnati, topping the Bearcats 3-1 at North Carolina State University.
Junior Jake Stalzer went seven innings on the hill to earn the win, allowing one unearned run on six hits with four strikeouts. Freshman Matt Harris pitched a scoreless ninth for his first career save.
The Bearcats got their only run on the day on a throwing error by Stalzer in the first inning. He tried to pickoff right fielder Matt Williams, but the error allowed Williams to score.
The Phoenix answered right back in the bottom of the first when junior center fielder Ryan Cooper ripped a single into right field, scoring junior third baseman Casey Jones. On a double steal, Cooper took second base, and senior second baseman Sebastian Gomez stole home to put Elon ahead, 2-1.
Redshirt freshman Danny Crowe added to that lead with a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning, scoring Cooper for the final run of the day.
Four errors plagued Cincinnati one day after four errors troubled Elon in Game 1 which the Phoenix took in extra innings. Mitch Patishall takes the loss for the Bearcats after four innings of work with three earned runs allowed on two hits with three walks and three strikeouts. Bryan Chenoweth went the final four innings allowing just one hit.
Elon stole four bases on the day and moves to 2-0 on the young season. The Phoenix will play its home opener at 5 p.m. Feb. 18 against No. 5 NC State at Latham Park.