ELON, N.C. – Two of the top three teams in the CAA baseball standings will square off this weekend at Latham Park as the Elon University Phoenix plays host to the Delaware Blue Hens in a crucial three-game set. Elon enters the weekend in second place and is just one game ahead of Delaware in the standings.
Tickets
Tickets are available for $5 for adults and $3 for children 12 and under. Tickets can be purchased at elonphoenix.com or at the ticket windows at Latham Park beginning one hour prior to first pitch.
Parking
Free parking for baseball games at Latham Park is available in the Ingold Parking Lot adjacent to the stadium. Parking is also available across the stree in the Hunt Softball Parking Lot.
SAAC Food Drive
The Elon Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) will be hosting part of its fifth annual food drive at Latham Park this weekend. The project not only provides an opportunity for student-athletes to compete in a non-athletic realm across campuses, it also allows institutions to address the need for donated food throughout their communities in an effort to stop hunger. With the help of Elon’s Campus Kitchen, Elon’s SAAC will donate all food and monetary gifts collected to Allied Churches of Alamance County. Fans will receive $1 off admission to this weekend’s baseball games for each item donated.
Latham Park Regulations
• Elon reserves the right to remove from Latham Park anyone who is intoxicated, using foul or abusive language or behaving inappropriately.
• In accordance with Elon University policies, alcohol and tobacco products are prohitbited in Latham Park.
• Per league policy, artificial noisemakers of any kind are prohibited in Latham Park.
• In accordance with Elon University policy, pets are not premitted within the gates of Latham Park. Only service animals may be brought into the facility.
• Umbrellas are prohibited inside Latham Park.
• Only student-athletes, officials and authorized personnel are permitted onto the field.
• Gates open 60 minutes prior to first pitch.
Pitching Matchup
Friday – Elon: So. RH Ryan Conroy (4-3, 3.34 ERA) vs. Delaware: Jr. RH Nick Spadafino (3-1, 5.58 ERA)
Saturday – Elon: Sr. LH Jordan Barrett (2-2, 4.57 ERA) vs. Delaware: Sr. LH Kevin Milley (3-1, 4.26 ERA)
Sunday – Elon: Fr. RH Kyle Brnovich (4-2, 2.412 ERA) vs. Delaware: TBA
Series History
Elon and Delaware have evenly split their previous six all-time meetings. The two first met in 1910 with Elon picking up a 10-2 victory over the Blue Hens. Eight of the matchups have occured over the past two seasons since the Phoenix joined the CAA. Delaware has won both regular-season series and the two split a pair of games in the 2015 CAA Tournament.
Nearing (and Passing) 100
Three Phoenix players have passed or are closing in on the 100-hit mark for their Elon careers. Sophmore Ryne Ogren reached the 100-hit mark with a double in game one at William & Mary. He now has 110 hits. Senior Kyle Jackson notched his 100th hit in an Elon uniform against High Point and now has 104 hits. Senior Kory Shumate has 78 hits in 113 career contests. Both Jackson and Shumate transferred to Elon. Jackson is in his second year with the team, while Shumate is playing his third season with the Phoenix.
On the mound, senior Jordan Barrett (in his second season in the maroon and gold) picked up the 100th strikeout of his Elon career by striking out the first batter he faced in game two against James Madison. He’s now at 124 career Ks. Senior Nick Beaulac (in his third year with the team) posted his 100th career strikeout against #20 Wake Forest.
Pounding Out the Hits
In Elon’s 8-1 win in the series finale at Towson on April 16, the Phoenix recorded a season-high 19 hits. It was the most for the program since a 23-hit outing against Penn State on Feb. 13, 2015.
Late Inning Streak Comes to an End
Prior to an April 14 loss to Towson in which the Tigers scored three ninth-inning runs to earn the win, Elon had won 50 conescutive games when leading after eight innings. The last such loss came on March 14, 2015 when East Carolina scored four runs in the ninth to defeat Elon by an 11-8 score.