The Spartans and Phoenix have played a total of 48 times in baseball, with Elon holding a 33-15 advantage in the series.  Under Link Jarrett, UNCG is 3-5 in games with Elon.  In 2015, the two teams played a pair of midweek games, with Elon taking both.  UNCG's last victory over Elon came in 2014, when the Spartans swept three games with the Phoenix as it was the last series the two played as Southern Conference competitors. 

UNCG enters the game taking two of the first three games of the 2016 season. The Spartans took a game at High Point and then won their home opener against those same High Point Panthers. A few newcomers find their names on the top of the UNCG stat sheet.  Ben Spitznagel (Cincinnati, Ohio/Wabash Valley CC) and Michael Goss (Cartersville, Ga./Chattanooga St. CC) are one and two in batting average among qualified hitters.  Spitznagel is hitting for a .545 average with a double and two RBI.  Goss finds himself hitting third in the UNCG lineup and has a .462 average with a double, a home run, five RBI and four runs scored in his young UNCG career.  Dillon Stewart (Dunn, N.C./Brunswick CC) has also made a name for himself in three games.  The junior transfer hit for a .385 average, with a team best 1.000 slugging percentage.  Stewart leads the team with two home runs and is tied with Tripp Shelton (Winston-Salem, N.C./West Forsyth) for the team lead with two doubles.  Stewart has also scored five runs and driven in four. 

On the mound, the Spartans are projected to start senior Keaton Haack (Greensboro, N.C./Pitt CC).  Haack made his first appearance of the season in the series finale with High Point.  In his 2.0 innings, Haack didn't allow a hit and struck out two hitters in his no-decision.  Easton Welch (Randleman, N.C./Randleman HS) and Ben Kerner (Cary, N.C./Brunswick CC) made appearances in Saturday's contest with High Point.  Both pitched one inning and struck out two and one hitters, respectively.  UNCG has added seven brand new pitchers, and an eighth including a redshirted Zach Kuchmaner (Charlotte, N.C./Marvin Ridge).  Kuchmaner was with the Spartans in 2015, but redshirted and did not participate in any games.

Elon enters the game coming off of a weekend of games with Wright State.  The Phoenix dropped all four games, with one going into extra innings.  Kyle Jackson is a player to watch in the Elon lineup.  The junior outfielder is hitting for a .438 average through four games.  He is slugging a team-best 1.125 and has had five of his seven hits go for extra-bases, including leading the team with three home runs.  Jackson is also leading the team in RBI (seven), runs (six), stolen bases (three) and is tied with Danny Lynch for the team lead in walks (three).  Lynch and Nick Zammarelli are two other Phoenix hitting above the .300 plateau.  Lynch has connected with a home run and a triple, while Zammarelli leads the team with three doubles.

The Phoenix projected starter for Tuesday's game is freshman Ryan Conroy.  Conroy has made one relief appearance this season, going 1.1 innings with Wright State.  In his outing, he gave up four hits, three earned runs and struck out three hitters. Derek Pike and Kellan Elsbury have made one and two appearances, respectively out of the Phoenix bullpen.  Pike pitched five shutout innings in his lone outing of the season, fanning six hitters.  Elsbury has made two appearances, logging 2.2 innings, giving up two hits and striking out three.  Dimitri Lettas has also logged 3.0 innings in two relief appearances, surrendering one hit and an earned run with three strikeouts.

The Spartans return to action on Friday, Feb. 26^th at 4:00 p.m. as they host the Binghamton Bearcats at the UNCG Baseball Stadium for the first of three games over the upcoming weekend. 

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