CHARLESTON, S.C. – Down 8-6 entering the ninth inning, the number three-seeded Elon Phoenix scored five runs over two innings to earn an 11-9 victory in 10 innings against the number five-seeded UNC Greensboro Spartans in the Southern Conference Baseball Tournament on Friday night at Riley Park.
Elon moves to 32-28 on the season while UNC Greensboro ends its season with a 30-30 record.
In the top of the ninth inning, Pat Irvine and Drew Davis each knocked singles to shallow left field before Mike Melillo singled through the right side on a 3-2 count to send
Irvine home.
Ryan Addison then took an 0-2 pitch down the right field line to score
Davis but UNC Greensboro right fielder Sean Snell threw out the go-ahead run at the plate leaving the game at an 8-8 tie.
In the top of the 10th inning, Elon put three runs on the board. Chase Austin reached on an error by the UNCG short stop before Chris Dove earned a walk. Adam Weaver then put down a bunt for a base hit to load the bases. Jordy Snyder knocked a high fly ball to centerfield that allowed Austin to score to take a 9-8 lead. The Spartans then intentionally walked Irvine before Davis singled to left centerfield to send Dove and Weaver home to score the eventual game-winnings runs and put Elon ahead 11-8.
Elon started the scoring with five runs in the top of the second inning. Addison, Ryan Adams and Austin each singled to load the bases before Dove earned a walk to push Addison across home plate. Weaver then singled up the middle to plate Adams and Austin and give Elon a 3-0 lead. Irvine then tripled to left centerfield to score Dove and Snyder, giving Elon a 5-0 advantage.
UNC Greensboro responded to knot the game in the bottom half of the inning. Ricky Orton singled to lead off the inning before Greg Feltes and Corey Overholtzer earned walks to load the bases. Adam Deleo then singled through the right side to plate Orton. Sam Martin singled into left field to put Feltes across home plate to cut the lead to three, 5-2. Tim Carrier knocked a fly ball to centerfield that scored Overholtzer before a single from Guy Welsh sent two runners across home plate to tie the game, 5-5.
The Spartans took the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. Matt Gaski earned a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch before a single from Welsh moved him to third. Orton then knocked the ball to the first baseman who made a play at second, allowing Gaski to take home plate.
UNCG extended its lead to two in the bottom of the seventh inning. Welsh doubled down the left field line before Orton singled to right centerfield to send Welsh home and give the Spartans a 7-5 lead. Snell then doubled into the corner in left field to plate Orton and go ahead 8-5.
In the top of the eighth inning, Davis walked, Addison singled and Chris Vasami drew a walk to load the bases before Austin grounded out to first base to send Davis home and cut the lead to two, 8-6.
Tom Porter (3-2) picked up the win for the Phoenix after hurling 3.1 innings in relief and giving up on run on four hits while striking out two. Elon starter Zach Booker threw 6.0 innings and gave up eight runs on 10 hits while retiring a career-best six batters.
Kory Judd (4-5) suffered the loss for the Spartans. He threw 1.1 innings in relief while giving up four runs (three earned) on four hits and striking out one batter. UNCG starter Matt Gibbs tossed 7.1 innings and gave up six runs on nine hits while fanning three batters.
Addison led Elon from the plate, going 4-for-6 with one run scored and one RBI. Irvine was 2-for-5 from the plate with one run and two RBI while Davis was 2-for-5 with two runs and two RBI. Weaver posted two hits, two RBI and one run scored while Adams was 2-for-3 with one run scored.
Welsh went 3-for-6 from the plate with one run and two RBI to lead the Spartans. Orton was 2-for-5 with two runs and two RBI while Gaski was 2-for-5 with one run and one RBI. Snell and Deleo each tallied two hits each.
Elon will face off with The Citadel at noon on Saturday in game 15 of the tournament.
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