CONWAY, SC – Tyson Blocker tossed a complete-game, five-hit shutout as Elon blanked defending Big South Conference champion Coastal Carolina 2-0 Sunday afternoon at Watson Stadium.
Blocker (4-3, 3-0 Big South) issued just one free pass while fanning five Chanticleers in his nine innings of work. Blocker is the first Phoenix pitcher to hurl a complete game so far this season.
Wes Miller drove in the game's first run in the fifth inning on a two-out RBI double to left field, scoring Paul Bennett, who had reached base on a single. The Phoenix (21-13-1 overall, 8-3 Big South) added another run in the eighth when Robbie Smith singled in Holt Montgomery from second base.
Seamus Donovan (2-4) picked up the loss for Coastal Carolina (26-9 overall, 3-2 Big South), despite allowing only two runs in seven and 2/3 innings. He struck out seven Phoenix batters, but walked another five.
Miller, Bennett, Smith, Montgomery, Gary Morris, Mike Fratoe and Mike Hromadka all rapped hits for Elon as the Phoenix out-hit the Chanticleers 7-5 and out-walked them 5-1. Coastal Carolina was paced by Ryan McGraw and Brandon Powell, who had two hits each.
Elon stranded eight base runners to CCU's four. Neither team committed an error in the contest.
Coastal will travel to Clemson for a two-game series with the nationally-ranked Tigers beginning on Tuesday at 7:15 p.m. The series will conclude on Wednesday at 7 p.m. Meanwhile, Elon hosts UNC Greensboro at Burlington Athletic Stadium at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
--ELON-- Game Box Score
