The Elon University baseball team swept the Quinnipiac University Bobcats in the three-game series this weekend, with the final 9-2 victory completed today.
The Phoenix came off of a walkoff win in 10 innings March 3 and an overpowering offensive victory 14-3 March 4.
Head coach Mike Kennedy said the team was locked in after completing two victories prior.
“It looked like business as usual for the guys, even after already securing the series,” Kennedy said. “I made sure they knew we needed to stay in the game and keep competing cause it wouldn’t be easy. And sure enough, today was a lot of work.”
The game was a quick one, with multiple three up, three down innings for both the Phoenix and the Bobcats. Freshman right-handed pitcher Ryan Sprock started for the Phoenix and dominated on the mound, only allowing one run, four hits and one walk over six innings of work.
Redshirt junior right-handed pitcher Spencer Bauer relieved Sprock in the seventh and only allowed one unearned run over one and two thirds innings. Redshirt junior left-handed pitcher Liam Dabagian gave up only one hit in his closing outing, pitching one and a third innings.
“Our pitching really stood out to me,” Kennedy said. “On a Sunday, closing out the long weekend and only giving up two runs, you’re giving the team a great chance to win the game.”
Offensively, the Phoenix had a slow start. The game was scoreless until the top of the sixth after an RBI single by Quinnipiac’s senior center fielder Anthony Donofrio. Elon answered in the bottom of the seventh, tying the game 1-1 off of fifth year designated hitter Luke Stephenson’s RBI double.
“I was ready to slow down and pay attention to the ball,” Stephenson said. “Once I started, the team's mindset changed. Whenever anyone does something to help the team it's celebrated a lot in the dugout, and I think they fed off that celebration and made the rest happen.”
After the top of the eighth inning, Elon was down 2-1, but the team didn’t let that get to their heads. The Phoenix came all the way back, overpowering the Bobcats off of nine hits and eight runs, bringing the score to 9-2, winning all three games at Latham Park.
“I’m glad we got out of this series taking all three wins with us,” Kennedy said. “Puts us in a much better mindset for these upcoming series.”
The team will play one game against East Carolina University on March 8 at home and then will start a new series against Colonial Athletic Association opponent Northeastern University March 10 to 12.