The Elon University baseball team played three games against the High Point University Panthers and the Ball State University Cardinals on Saturday, Feb. 21 and Sunday, Feb. 22.
The Phoenix defeated High Point 6-5 in the first game but lost to the Cardnials 18-8 and 8-3 in the last two games.
Game One
Sophomore utility player Nick Zammarelli drove in all six runs for the Phoenix in an effort that included a double, two home runs and scoring two runs himself.
Elon scored quickly in the first inning as Zammarelli drove in senior catcher Chris King off a two-run single down the left-field line. In the fourth inning, Zammarelli would hit his first two-run home run before doing it again in the fifth inning.
High Point would score twice in the eighth inning to draw closer to the Phoenix but would not be able to overcome Phoenix junior closer Joe McGillicuddy as he recorded the save to give Elon a 6-5 victory.
Junior pitcher Michael Elefante earned his first win of the season after allowing only one run on six hits.
Game Two
In Elon’s second game of the weekend against Ball State, the Cardinals got out to an early leads after two-first inning errors by the Phoenix yielded three unearned runs.
Ball State would score two runs in the second inning and four in the third inning to reach a 12-1 lead. Elon would rally to score seven runs in the bottom of the fifth inning off of Zammarelli’s eighth RBI and a grand slam from junior infielder Brett Guba.
The Cardinals added seven more runs of its own in the final four innings to give Ball State the 18-8 victory.
Senior pitcher Jake Stalzer took home his first loss of the season after allowing eight runs on seven hits.
Game Three
Elon would not be able to overcome stranding 11 runners on base as senior pitcher Lucas Bakker received his first loss after allowing seven runs off of eight hits in five innings of work.
The Phoenix scored sophomore infielder Kory Shumate after an infield single from senior outfielder Quinn Bower to tie the game a one apiece in the first inning.
Ball State would score two runs in the top of the second inning off an Elon error to give it a 3-1 advantage. The Phoenix would respond once again with a run after a groundout by Bower scored Chris King from third base.
The game started to get away from the Phoenix in the sixth inning when Ball State scored four runs as it earned its second victory over Elon, 8-3.
The Phoenix will return to the field Tuesday, Feb. 24 for a game against High Point University. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.