Box Score

TAMPA, Fla. -- Niko Fraser's one-out single in the top of the 16th inning drove home two runs sending the Elon Phoenix baseball team to a 7-5 victory over the South Florida Bulls on Sunday afternoon.  The win gave Elon (5-2) the series win two games to one.

The 16-inning affair was the longest for the Phoenix since an 18-inning contest against Wofford on May 1, 2009.  It equaled the longest game in USF history.

After six scoreless frames, the game was still even at five in the top of the 16th inning when Harry Austin drew a one-out walk and moved to second when Eric Serra was hit by a pitch.  A passed ball moved both runners up a bag before Fraser's clutch hit – a line-drive single to right-center which drove home both runners to put Elon on top 7-5.

USF (1-5) took a 1-0 lead in the second thanks to back-to-back two-out hits.  Chad Taylor lined a single to left and then came around to score on James Ramsay's double to the gap in right-center.

Elon answered right back, once again taking advantage of a USF error this series.  Garrett Koster led the at bat off by drawing a walk.  Austin put down a sacrifice bunt, but the throw to first was off its mark allowing Koster to score and Austin to wind up on third.  Jake Luce's single to right plated Austin to give the Phoenix a 2-1 advantage.

The Phoenix added another in the fourth without the benefit of a hit.  Seth Canipe began the inning with a walk before three consecutive two-out walks forced in a run to make it a 3-1 game.

Alex Swim extended his career-best hitting streak to 11 games with a single up the middle to lead off the Elon fifth.  After Neal Pritchard was plunked to put two aboard, Canipe reached on fielder's choice that erased Pritchard.  With Grant McCoury at the plate, Canipe swiped second.  McCoury then singled home both runners with a line drive down the right field line as the Phoenix edge reached 5-1.

After the first two hitters of the USF eighth were retired, Daniel Rockhold lifted a fly ball to center that was dropped.  With Rockhold on second after the error, Todd Brazeal singled to center to plate the second Bull run of the game.  Back-to-back singles from Andrew Longley and Taylor loaded the bases for Ramsay who flew out to right to keep Elon's lead at 5-2 heading into the ninth inning.

Clinging to a three-run lead, the Phoenix turned to closer Thomas Girdwood.  Girdwood plunked Luis Llerena to start the inning.  After a wild pitch and a ground out moved Llerena to third, Junior Carlin singled to left to make it a 5-3 contest.  Girdwood then got Sam Mende to pop out to right before Rockhold singled to put the tying run aboard.  Brazeal's double to the gap in left-center should have just scored one, but the fourth Elon error of the contest allowed pinch-runner Anthony Diaz to score to tie the game at five.

Elon's Mitch Conner (1-0) picked up the first victory of his career after holding USF to no runs and just one hit over the final three innings.  He also struck out a career-best four hitters.  Phoenix starter Jared Kernodle turned in his best outing of the season and left after 7.2 innings.  He was charged with two runs (one earned) on eight hits.  Kernodle fanned two. 

The Phoenix used a total of five pitchers who combined did not issue a walk.  The trio of Conner, John Brebbia and David Whitehead combined to thrwo 6.1 scoreless innings, allowing just four hits.

Offensively, Elon finished the day with nine hits, including two apiece by McCoury and Swim.  Luce, Fraser and McCoury all tallied two RBI during the four-hour, 24 minute game.

USF's Andrew Loynaz (0-1) was the losing pitcher.  He gave up two runs (one earned) on one hit in an inning.  The Bulls used nine pitchers including starter Nick Gonzalez.  Gonzalez allowed just one hit in four innings, but walked six Elon hitters and gave up three runs (one earned).

Carlin led USF with a 3-for-6 day.  He scored a run and drove in one.  Four other Bull hitters had two-hit outings as USF finished with 15 base hits.

Elon will play at home for just the second time this season when the Phoenix welcomes UNC Wilmington to Latham Park for a 4 p.m. contest on Wednesday.  Elon's next five games will be at home.