GREENSBORO, N.C. – After surrendering a two-run lead in the bottom of the eighth inning, the Elon Phoenix fought back to pick up a 4-3 victory over the UNC Greensboro Spartans in Southern Conference baseball action from UNCG Baseball Stadium on Sunday afternoon. All three games of the series were decided by just one run. The Phoenix won the series two game to one and improved to 33-14 overall and 15-6 in SoCon play. The Spartans dropped to 26-17, 11-7 this season.
For the first time during the weekend, the Phoenix jumped on top in the first inning. With two outs, Cory Harrilchak drilled a 1-2 pitch over the fence in right for his fifth home run of the season. With the blast, Harrilchak has now reached base in 18 consecutive games.
Elon extended its lead to 2-0 in the sixth inning when Donny Jobe hit his second homer of the year. The lead-off shot went to right. The Phoenix chased starter Rob Gilliam when Bennett Davis ripped a one-out double to the left-centerfield gap. Davis came home when Dallas Tarleton singled up the middle.
UNCG got on the board in the bottom of the sixth. Drew Gehringer hit a double to start the frame, went to third on a ground out and scored on Pedro Leon’s ground ball out.
After a solid 7.0 innings from Ken Ferrer, the righty gave up a lead-off walk to Sean Snell. The Spartans got runners on first and second with Corey Overholtzer’s bunt single. Gehringer sacrificed the runners to second and third before Thomas Girdwood came on to strike out Ray Quinones. A wild pitch brought home Snell, pulling UNCG within a run a 3-2. Leon grounded a ball past the diving Davis at third to even the score at three.
Harry Austin started the top of the 10th with a single just over the leaping Matt Gaski at short and stole second. Jobe sacrificed the go-ahead run to third, bringing Harrilchak to the plate. After Harrilchak drew a four-pitch walk, Davis crushed a ball to right-center which was run down by Leon for the second out of the inning, however, Austin was able to tag and score easily.
Girdwood (4-0) picked up his second victory in as many days. The freshman threw a career-long 2.2 innings, giving up one hit. Ferrer took a no-decision, but hurled a career-best 7.1 innings. He was charged with three runs on four hits.
Kory Judd (0-2) took the loss after giving up one run on one hit in 1.0 inning of work. Starter Rob Gilliam lasted 5.1 innings and was responsible for three runs on six hits.
Tarleton and Austin both had two hits to pace the nine-hit Elon attack.
For UNCG, Leon drove in two with a 1-for-4 day. The Spartans had just five hits.
The Phoenix will next take the diamond on Wednesday when Appalachian State visits Latham Park for a 7 p.m. game in the first game of a three-game SoCon series.
– ELON –
