Elon splits doubleheader between High Point and Ball State
The Elon Baseball team split its first two games of this weekend’s tournament in Aiken, S.C. with a 6-5 win against High Point and an 18-8 loss versus Ball State. The loss is the first for the Phoenix this season.
Sophomore Nick Zammarelli knocked in all six runs for the Phoenix, beginning with a 2 RBI single in the first inning. In the fourth with Chris King on second base, Zammarelli hit a 2-run homerun over the right field wall to extend Elon’s lead to 4-0. Zammarelli knocked in his second homer of the game the following inning.
High Point began staging a comeback against Elon with a run in the sixth inning and later two runs a piece in the eighth and ninth. The Phoeninx offense struggled to keep up with HPU’s advances, but the Elon defense would prove to be just enough to hold them off.
HPU’s offensive effort was led by Cody Manzella who had four RBIs for the Panthers. He was assisted by Tony Fortier-Bensen who had 1 RBI.
With the loss HPU fell to 1-4 on the season. Elon remained undefeated at 4-0.
Elon’s fate was seemingly reversed against Ball State, quickly falling behind by eight runs after three innings. The Phoenix managed to put up seven runs in the fifth inning, cutting the deficit to 12-8, but it would not be enough as Ball State proceeded to tack on six additional runs. before the game was over.
Elon was led on offense by Brett Guba who batted in 4 runs, including a homer for the Phoenix. He was assisted by Nick Zammarelli and Chris King who each had two RBIs.
Ball State was led by Alex Call, Jarett Rindfleisch, and Sean Kennedy who each had three RBIs. Elbert Devarie also made an impact, batting in two runs and hitting a homerun.
Elon returns to the diamond at 11am on Sunday for a rematch with Ball State.
