The 22nd-ranked Coastal Carolina University baseball team (34-11) lost its first three game series of the season as Elon University (28-19) pounded 12 runs and 13 hits in defeating the Chanticleers 12-6 May 1 in Elon, N.C.

After a couple of baserunning mistakes cost the Phoenix in the first two innings, Coastal was first on the scoreboard in the top of the third. Senior Jon Foisy (Ridgecrest, Calif./Cerro Coso C.C.) and junior DJ Burns (Gilbert, Ariz./Chandler Gilbert J.C.) both had infield singles and both moved up a base on a walk to junior Mike Costanzo (Springfield, Pa./Archbishop Carroll). Foisy would then score on a four-pitch walk to junior Michael DeJesus (Manapalan, N.J./East Carolina).

The Chants added a run in the fourth. Junior Aaron Verrett (Jupiter, Fla./Polk C.C.) doubled to open the inning and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt from freshman Tommy Baldridge (Fort Mill, S.C./Fort Mill). Verrett scored on a chopped single up the middle from junior Mike Fuentes (Miami, Fla./North Florida C.C.).

Elon broke through to starter Kevin Salmon (Brentwood, N.Y./Briarcliffe C.C.) in the fourth for five runs. Paul Bennett was hit by a pitch to open the inning. He went to second on an infield single from Chris Price. After a fly out, Drew Davis brought home Bennett on a single. Salmon struck out Chris Vasami, but Ryan Radford’s single up the middle scored two and gave Elon a 3-2 lead. Junior Mike Valter (Bloomingdale, N.J./Briarcliffe C.C.) relieved Salmon and Aaron Weaver singled to score two more.

Coastal scored a run in the top of the fifth. Costanzo walked to start the frame, went to second on a wild pitch and to third on a DeJesus single. Sophomore Chris Raber (Coplay, Pa./Whitehall) brought Costanzo home on a sacrifice fly.

Elon made it 7-3 in the bottom of the fifth on a double by Davis that scored Bennett and Price.

Coastal cut the lead to three runs in the top of the sixth. Baldridge singled to open the inning and went to second on a Foisy single. Baldridge came home on a single up the middle by senior Chris Todd (Seattle, Wash./Bellevue C.C.), who extended his on-base streak to 47 games.

DeJesus chopped the Phoenix lead to one in the top of the seventh on his seventh home run of the season, an opposite field shot that scored Costanzo. Coastal could have had more, as the Chants had runners on second and third with one out, but Elon reliever Justin Bors struck out Fuentes and enduced a fly out to Foisy to end the threat.

Elon put the nail in the coffin as it scored five runs off Costanzo. Weaver doubled with one out and scored on a Morris single. Bennett was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. After Costanzo struck out Price, Evan Erickson singled home Morris to make it 9-6 and Davis had the big blow, a three-run home run to left field for a 12-6 lead.

Regan earned the win in relief, going 2.1 innings with eight hits and three runs. Bors struck out three in 1.2 innings. The loss fell to Salmon, who went 3.2 innings, striking out two and giving up four hits and five runs. Binda struck out three in two innings.

Foisy went 3-for-4 for Coastal, while DeJesus drove in three runs. Davis drove in six runs, going 3-for-5, while Weaver had three hits for the Phoenix.

Coastal will have the midweek off for exams and return to action Friday, May 6 against Charleston Southern. Game time is at 6 p.m., at Watson Stadium/Vrooman Field.