WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (Interstat) — Tommy Mitchell threw six innings of one-run ball and the Elon Phoenix defeated the William and Mary Tribe 5-2 on Saturday afternoon at Plumeri Park, splitting the first two games of their Colonial Athletic Association series.

Mitchell, who struck out seven and allowed no hits while yielding his only run in the first inning, retired 18 of the next 20 batters he faced after the Tribe’s early rally. He was aided by two double plays turned by the Phoenix defense. Kehler Hamilton pitched the final three innings, striking out one and allowing a solo home run in the ninth, to secure the win.

William and Mary struck first in the bottom of the first. Jamie Laskofski walked and, after a double play erased him, Mike Iriotakis walked. John Kosuda singled through the left side, and Tommy Bartletti followed with an RBI single to right, scoring Iriotakis. A walk loaded the bases, but Mitchell struck out Charlie Summers to limit the damage to one run.

Elon answered in the second. After a leadoff flyout, Luke Evans walked, moved to second on a wild pitch and was picked off. Connor Sterling singled, and Brad Smith singled to center. Sterling scored on a wild pitch and Smith moved to second. A strikeout ended the inning with the score tied 1-1.

The Phoenix took the lead in the third. Jackson Alford doubled to deep left, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on Brian DuRoff’s single to third. DuRoff stole second and came home on Jared Hall’s triple to deep center, making it 3-1.

Elon added another run in the fourth. After two groundouts, Charlie Hajdu doubled down the left-field line. Alford singled to short, putting runners at the corners, and Hajdu scored on a wild pitch. Alford moved to second on the pitch but was left stranded.

William and Mary threatened in the sixth. Bartletti was hit by a pitch and Nate Scafidi singled, putting runners on first and second with no outs. Summers grounded into a double play, second base to shortstop to first, which allowed Bartletti to advance to third. A groundout ended the inning, and the Tribe remained down 4-1.

Elon extended the lead in the seventh. DuRoff singled to center, moved to third on a throwing error by Tribe reliever Noah Hertzler on a failed pickoff attempt, and scored on Hall’s groundout to second.

William and Mary mounted a rally in the ninth. After two quick outs, Kevin Francella hit a solo home run to left, his third of the season. Laskofski singled to right, and Joe Kaczmarek singled to right, putting the tying run at the plate. But Hamilton induced a groundout from Iriotakis to end the game.

Jared Hall went 2 for 4 with two RBIs for Elon. Brian DuRoff was 2 for 5 with an RBI and two runs scored. Jackson Alford and Jamie Laskofski each had two hits. For William and Mary, Zack Potts took the loss, allowing four earned runs on eight hits over four innings while striking out three. Francella’s homer was the Tribe’s only extra-base hit.

The win improved Elon’s record to 18-27 overall and evened the series after a 5-4, 12-inning loss Friday. William and Mary fell to 20-24.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of William and Mary 6, Elon 3, with the Tribe holding a 53.70 percent probability to win based on its ELO system.