ELON, N.C. – A three-run first inning set the tone for Elon as the Phoenix mounted an offensive attack that dropped Longwood, 10-5, in the season opener Friday afternoon at Latham Park.
 
Helped along by an error, Elon (1-0) put together a three-run bottom of the first inning to jump out to an early lead and Longwood (0-1) was unable to recover in the season opener.
 
"We came out very excited, but opening day jitters got the best of us early on," Longwood third-year head coach Ryan Mau said. "I thought we settled down halfway through, but unfortunately it was too late to overcome the deficit."
 
All three runs in the first inning were unearned, scoring after a dropped third strike and throwing error with one out allowed Elon to load the bases, scoring the runs with two outs. The first blow came on a two-run double by Cam Devanney, who finished the day 3-for-4 with a pair of run scored. Six of the 13 Elon hits went for extra bases, two from lead-off hitter Zach Evers who doubled and homered in the first two innings.
 
Senior right-hander Cody Wager (0-1) was hit with the loss after allowing a total of six runs, three earned, in 3.1 innings on eight hits, but posted five strikeouts with one walk issued in his second career start with Longwood. Ryan Conroy (1-0) got the win for Elon, allowing just two runs in 5.2 innings with seven strikeouts against two walks and five hits allowed.
 
After getting into a 7-0 hole, Longwood's offense came to life, stringing together a two-run sixth and two-run seventh inning. Longwood's offense was led by multi-hit efforts from junior shortstop Michael Osinski and freshman second baseman Nate Blakeney, who hit his first career home run.
 
"We got knocked down a few times, including the big first inning, but we continually got up and kept on fighting," Mau said. "That resiliency will prove to pay off for us as we continue to build."
 
Longwood manufactured runs in the middle innings, scoring its first run of the day in the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly by Justin Mitchell, followed by an RBI single by freshman Grant Keller for his first collegiate hit. After scoring a pair of runs in the seventh inning on a bases-loaded walk and passed ball, Blakeney homered to left in the eighth inning for his first collegiate blast.
 
"It was good to see Blakeney and Keller grab their first collegiate hits of the year," Mau said. "Nate's solo shot was an impressive no-doubter over the left field wall."
 
A total of nine Lancers made their debuts in the game, seven of which were freshmen, including the first three relief pitchers in Tyler Morgan, John Gregory, and Travis Riley. Each freshman pitcher struck out two batters at Elon. Longwood started four newcomers in the field with Mitchell at first base, Blakeney at second base, Keller playing left field, and Ryan Shull playing right field.
 
"We immediately threw those guys into the fire and that experience will help expedite their development," Mau said. "I thought Morgan, Gregory, and Riley all showed great composure for us out of the bullpen.
 
"Although it was not the outcome we were hunting today, we were able to take away a lot of positives."
 
In the loss, senior designated hitter Alex Lewis went 1-for-4, extending his hitting streak carried over from last season to 16 games. The 15-game hitting streak Lewis ended the season riding was tied for the longest streak by a Lancer in 2016.
 
Longwood plays game two of the three-game set at Elon Saturday at 2 p.m. Senior right-hander Devin Gould is expected to make the start opposite of righty Robbie Welhaf for Elon.
 
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