HIGH POINT — After dropping two of its three first three conference games last weekend, the Elon University baseball team rebounded with a 7-0 non-conference win over the High Point University Panthers.
After going scoreless in the first two innings, Elon produced three runs in the top of the third, as sophomore right fielder Alex Iadisernia and redshirt junior designated hitter Luke Stephenson batted in a combined three runs to put the Phoenix ahead 3-0.
Freshman Shea Sprague made his first career start at pitcher. He threw the first three innings, allowing one hit while striking out two batters. Three other Elon pitchers saw playing time but no player threw more than three innings.
Redshirt sophomore third baseman Connor Coolahan added another run for Elon in the top of the fourth with an RBI single that scored freshman first baseman Alex Duffey to make it 4-0.
The Phoenix added two more runs in the fifth inning. One was the result of a High Point throwing error and the other due to a passed ball. Elon tacked on one more run in the top of the seventh when redshirt freshman shortstop Will Vergantino hit a solo home run, the second of his career, to put the team ahead 7-0.
Sophomore pitcher Ben Simon finished the game on the mound for Elon. He allowed back-to-back singles to start the inning, but followed that with a pair of strikeouts and a game-ending fielder’s choice handled by Vergantino.
The game was played at Truist Point, the home of the High Point Rockers, a minor league franchise that plays in the Atlantic League. Though the game was still in High Point, this was considered a neutral site game.
Elon now leads the series between the two teams 129-88. Elon has played more games against High Point than any other school since the program began play in 1900.
With the win, Elon’s record improves to 13-11. The Phoenix return to conference play this weekend with a three game road series against James Madison University. The first game is scheduled for Friday at 6 p.m.