Six-Run Ninth Keeps Elon Alive In CAA Baseball Championship With 7-4 Win Over William & Mary
Rob Washburn
Box Score
MT. PLEASANT, S.C. (May 22, 2025) – Sixth-seeded Elon exploded for six runs in the top of the ninth, highlighted by a three-run homer from junior catcher Alex Duffey, and held on for a 7-4 victory over No. 5 William & Mary to stay alive in the CAA Baseball Championship on Thursday afternoon at the Ballpark at Patriots Point.
Elon (25-31) will return to action at 11 a.m. on Friday in another elimination game, while the Tribe’s season came to an end with a 21-35 mark.
With the game tied at 1-1 in the top of the ninth, Jackson Alford and Ryan Sprock reached on walks for the Phoenix. Facing two outs and two strikes, Duffey delivered a 411-foot bomb over the fence in right. Elon continued the offensive onslaught as Will Vergantino provided a two-run single and then came home when Alford was hit by a pitch to make it 7-1.
W&M fought back in the bottom of the ninth, loading the bases with only one out. Henry Jackson scored on a balk and a Jamie Laskofski RBI single trimmed the deficit to 7-3. The Tribe added another run on a fielder’s choice and brought the tying run to the plate, but Sprock was able to snag a ground ball and beat the runner to the bag to end the game.
The ninth-inning outburst overshadowed outstanding pitching performances from both teams. Elon starter Justin Mitrovich limited W&M to five hits and one run over 7.2 innings and fanned five. Tribe starter Zach Boyd gave up just one run over 3.2 innings and reliever Carter Lovasz held Elon to one hit and one run over 4.1 frames while striking out eight.
Elon jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Sprock lined a two-out single to left and came home following a catcher’s interference and a pair of walks. William & Mary pulled even in the bottom of the second without getting a hit. Laskofski was hit by a pitch to open the frame and later scored on an Anthony Greco sacrifice fly.
Six different Elon players had a hit and the Phoenix also drew 11 walks. For W&M, Laskofski finished 3-for-4 and Lucas Carmichael and Jerry Barnes had two hits apiece.