The Elon University men’s baseball team took revenge against the University of Toledo Rockets Saturday, blowing them out 13-2 to avenge Friday’s 13-6 loss.
Toledo wasted no time getting on the board, doing so with a solo home run in the bottom of the first by Darryn Davis. Elon redshirt sophomore pitcher Joe Savino allowed a double the very next at bat, and the runner advanced on a throwing error. However, Savino got himself out of the jam, limiting the damage to just one run in the first. Those were the last of his struggles, according to head coach Mike Kennedy.
“He was important for a lot of reasons,” Kennedy said. “After what happened yesterday, we really needed a quality start.”
Savino went five innings for the Phoenix, allowing five hits and one earned run to improve his record this season to 1-1.
The Phoenix did not let the first inning setback define them, and following a stolen base by sophomore right fielder Alex Iadisernia, redshirt junior catcher Luke Stephenson tripled to right field to drive in Iadisernia and tie the game at 1-1. Stephenson was then able to score on an error by Toledo to put Elon ahead 2-1.
Redshirt sophomore designated hitter Willie Havens, who reached second base on the error that scored Stephenson, scored off a single up the middle by sophomore first baseman Cole Reynolds. Error woes continued for Toledo, and another error throwing to first base allowed Reynolds to score as sophomore center fielder Justin Cassella reached second. The Phoenix led 4-1 at the end of the frame.
Another error by Toledo in the bottom of the second inning on a routine fly ball to center field allowed graduate student third baseman Samuel Frontino to reach second. In the next at bat, Iadisernia singled to right-center field, scoring Frontino to put Elon ahead 5-1.
In the bottom of the third, with the bases loaded and two out, Frontino drew a walk on a full count to score another run. In the next at bat, Iadisernia hit a bases-clearing double to deep left-center field. Through three innings, Elon led 9-1.
The offensive onslaught for Elon did not stop there, however, as Stephenson crushed a ball in the bottom of the fourth inning into the trees behind center field for a home run. Elon tacked on three more runs in the inning to go up 13-1.
Toledo added another run in the top of the sixth inning but could not draw any closer, as Elon held onto its 12 run lead for the final three innings.
Iadisernia went three for four at the plate and drove in four runs. He said the key to the team’s bounce back victory was starting the game with more energy.
“Coming out of the gate being passionate.” Iadisernia said. “We stuck to our plan and capitalized on their mistakes”
Elon faces Toledo again tomorrow to finish off the weekend series. The game at Latham Park will begin at 2 p.m.