ASHEVILLE, NC -- Elon pitching limited UNC Asheville to just two total runs on 10 hits as the Phoenix swept the Bulldogs, 7-0 and 7-2, in a Big South Conference doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Greenwood Field.
Dick Howser Trophy semifinalist Whit Bryant (7-2) served up the first victory and Tyson Blocker (8-2) hurled the second for Elon (32-19, 12-8 Big South). In the opener, Bryant allowed just two hits in seven innings while walking eight Bulldogs and fanning five.
UNC Asheville (20-26, 7-13) stranded 14 men on base in the first game. The Bulldogs left the bases loaded on three different occasions.
Mark Schuurman (4-5) suffered the defeat, surrendering four runs -- but only two earned ones -- all in the first inning. He scattered eight hits over seven innings while striking out six batters and walking one.
The Phoenix struck in the first inning when Jason Tuttle doubled in Brian Ingram, who had opened the game with a bloop single. Academic All-District player Jim Swenson followed with a sacrifice fly for a 2-0 Phoenix lead. Gary Morris and Ricky Callison rapped RBI singles later in the inning after a UNC Asheville error prolonged the frame.
Bryant protected the 4-0 Elon advantage, pitching himself in and out of trouble and receiving a huge defensive play in the bottom of the seventh. With two outs and runners on first and second base that inning, UNCA's Israel Victor sent a shot to deep right field where Phoenix RF Ross Cook made a diving catch to end the rally.
The Phoenix put the game away in the eighth with three more runs. Wes Miller scored on a wild pitch, before Morgan Frazier followed with an RBI double and Ingram smacked an RBI single.
In the nightcap, a seven-inning affair, Blocker pitched a complete game, scattering eight hits to go with two strikeouts. He did not surrender a single base on balls.
The teams exchanged two runs in the first frame. Elon scored on a sacrifice fly by Bryant and a run-scoring triple by Cook. The Bulldogs responded in the bottom half of the inning on RBI singles by Denver Edick and Grant Rembert.
The Phoenix claimed the lead for good when Ingram ran home on a UNCA error, giving Elon a 3-2 advantage. Elon went on to score three times in the third, courtesy of Cook's solo homer to right field and a pair of run-scoring Bulldog errors.
Morris' fourth-inning RBI single ultimately led to the contest's final score. UNCA was paced by Rembert and Jake McConiga, who each rapped a pair of hits.
The two teams meet for the third (and final) contest of the three-game weekend series Sunday afternoon. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.
--100 YEARS OF ELON BASEBALL-- Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
