The Elon University baseball team began its first true road trip with two wins at the Chanticleer Classic in Myrtle Beach, S.C., Saturday, March 9. The Phoenix beat University of Minnesota 5-2 and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County 3-1.
In the first game, junior Lucas Bakker went the distance on the mound, allowing just five hits while striking out five in his first complete game for Elon. He retired 18 consecutive batters from the second inning until the ninth.
Minnesota went up 2-0 in the first on a pair of unearned runs, but Elon answered in the bottom half of the inning with an RBI-double from Sebastian Gomez. The Phoenix plated three in the fourth inning, two coming on a double by freshman Nick Zammarelli. Tucker Norton brought Zammarelli around on a groundout. In the fifth, Danny Lynch singled in a run for the final scoring of the game.
Against UMBC, Elon scored three in the seventh which proved enough for the victory. Zammarelli and Andy Moore began the frame with singles, and a hit batter loaded the bases. Then, Casey Jones and Gomez both walked to bring in runs. A passed ball brought in the last run for Elon.
Michael Elefante wen seven innings on the mound for the win, allowing just one run on eight hits with six strikeouts. Ryan Pennell earned his third save of the year, allowing one hit in the final two innings.
Elon now sits at 10-4 on the season and will wrap up the Chanticleer Classic against Coastal Carolina University at 2:30 p.m. March 9.