In the Kent State baseball team’s fifth consecutive trip to the South, it fell to Elon (17-7) in a three-game series 14-8, 10-1 and 13-12.

Kent State (7-8) leapt to an early 6-0 lead after the second inning, scoring three runs in both innings. Junior left fielder Kurt Eichorn hit a sacrifice fly, junior third baseman Andrew Davis hit a double and Todd Balduf hit a triple to start the game.

Elon clinched the game with a line drive grand slam over the left field wall in the ninth inning, giving the Phoenix the win and their only lead of the day.

Emmanuel Burriss, Brad Winter, Davis and Balduf all finished the day with two hits.

In the first game of the series, Elon outhit Kent State 13 to 12 and took a scored eight runs in the sixth inning to pull ahead for the win.

Eichorn, last week’s Mid-American Conference Hitter of the Week, went 3-for-4 at the plate with a double, home run, three RBI and two runs scored. Also leading the Flashes was senior first baseman Drew Saylor, who went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and his second home run of the season.

On the mound, senior Chad Wagler allowed five runs in five innings in his fifth start of the season, while senior Jon Miller closed the game with a loss after allowing four runs in the sixth inning.

The momentum continued for Elon the following day as it scored eight runs in the first three innings and 14 hits on the day to take the game 10-1.

Kent State scored its only run of the game in the top of the third with Davis singling in Joe Tucker. Burriss also contributed with two singles, and Eichorn added a hit.

Contact assistant sports editor Amanda Vasil at [email protected].