ELON, N.C. – The UNCG baseball team took an early lead in Wednesday's non-conference game at Elon, but the Phoenix rattled off seven unanswered runs, including five in the third, to claim a 7-3 victory at Latham Park. The Spartans drop to 2-4 overall while Elon improves to 5-2.

Senior outfielders Zac MacAneney and Tyler Long recorded two hits apiece for UNCG while Long added two RBI and MacAneney scored two runs. Chris King and Austin Leeney combined to go 4-for-6 to pace the Phoenix attack.

In his first collegiate start, redshirt sophomore Julian Abreu took the loss giving up seven runs (five earned) on eight hits. He struck out three and did not walk a batter. Matt Harris nabbed the win for Elon, tossing six innings and allowing two runs on four hits. He matched his career high with eight strikeouts against just one walk.

The UNCG offense went to work early in the contest as MacAneney led off with a sharp single to right field and Long sent an 0-2 pitch sailing over the right field wall to make the score 2-0 after a half inning. Elon answered with a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the second to knot the score at two. Kalbfleisch made a perfect throw from left field to nail a runner at home to end the inning and keep the game tied.

The Spartans had a great chance to take the lead back in the top of the third. MacAneney led off with a walk and moved to second on a wild pitch, but he would stay there after a pop up, strikeout and groundout. The Phoenix broke the game open in the bottom of the third, batting around and scoring five runs on six hits and two UNCG errors to take a 7-2 advantage.

A bit of misfortune plagued the Spartans in the top of the fourth as Ruiz doubled to lead off the inning but his shoe came off rounding second and he was gunned down at third trying to stretch his hit into a triple. A strikeout and groundout by Wright and Woody then ended the half inning.

The bullpen junior duo of LHP Bryant Stafford and RHP Keaton Haack threw the final 5 1/3 innings for UNCG and they combined brilliantly to limit Elon to just two hits while striking out eight (four apiece). However, the Spartans could muster just one more run, a RBI single by Kalbfleisch, over the remaining frames. UNCG had its best chance in the top of the eighth with the bases loaded, but a fielder's choice out ended the threat.

Weather permitting, the Blue and Gold returns to the field this weekend and hosts Akron in a three-game series at the UNCG Baseball Stadium. First pitch for Friday's opening contest is scheduled for 4 p.m.

Follow the UNCG baseball team all season by logging on to www.uncgspartans.com and following the Spartans' official Twitter accounts @uncgbaseball/@uncgsports.