CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Lance Cole threw eight innings and Elon scored three unearned runs in the top of the eighth to break open a 3-3 tie and defeat Georgia Southern 7-3 in an elimination game at the 2004 Southern Conference Baseball Championships sponsored by the Virginia-Carolina Peanut Growers and the National Peanut Board. The win was the first-ever defeat of Georgia Southern by the Phoenix in baseball.
Elon (31-27) began the scoring in the top of the first inning, plating two runs. Gary Morris led off the game with a double to left center, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on Grant Rembert's single to right. After a groundout advanced Rembert to second, Chris Price singled to right and Rembert slid under the tag of Eagle catcher Flint Wipke with the second run.
Georgia Southern (34-25) got one run back in the bottom of the inning when, with two outs, Brandon Long walked and a Grant Burruss single put runners on first and second. Long rode home on a single to center off the bat of Greg Dowling.
The Eagles tied the game at two in the fourth inning after back-to-back singles from Long and Burruss put runners at the corners. A double play allowed Long to score for the second time.
Elon retook the lead at 3-2 in the sixth inning after starting the frame with an Evan Tartaglia single and steal of second. A Drew Davis single brought home Tartaglia to break the tie.
Dowling led off the bottom of the seventh and reached on an error. A bunt single from Jason Hurst and a sacrifice bunt from Brandon Ponder put runners on second and third with only one out. Wipke's sac fly plated Dowling to tie the game at three. Elon put an end the threat with a flyout to left by the next hitter.
The Phoenix broke the game open in the eighth inning and again it began with Morris. He led off with a single to right and moved to second on a sac bunt. A GSU error allowed Rembert to reach and Morris to advance to third. Davis then lined out to right, but Morris tug at third and scored to give Elon a 4-3 edge. A walk to Chris Price and a single from Evan Erickson made the margin 5-3. A Tyler Stevens single then brought home Price with the sixth Phoenix tally.
Paul Bennett began the ninth inning with a single to right and he would ride home on a two-out single from Rembert to left with the final run of the game.
Cole (6-2) picked up the win after hurling 8.0 innings and allowing three runs (two earned) on eight hits and two walks. He fanned four Eagle hitters and threw 130 pitches. Adam Acosta allowed one hit in the ninth and struck out two to finish off the game.
Brian Harrison (7-6) suffered the loss for Georgia Southern after giving up six runs (three earned) on eight hits and two walks over 7.2 innings of work.
Morris, Tartaglia, Rembert and Stevens each logged two-hit afternoons for Elon. Morris and Rembert each scored two runs and Rembert and Davis both drove in two.
Burruss and Hurst led GSU with two hits apiece.
Elon advances to face the winner of the College of Charleston/Davidson contest at 7:30 p.m. tonight.
-- ELON -- Game Box Score
