ELON, NC – Coastal Carolina erupted for a seven-run third inning en route to a 10-6 series-winning victory over Elon Sunday afternoon at Latham Park, taking over the driver’s seat in the Big South Conference.
With the victory, the Chanticleers (29-16, 10-5 Big South) now lead second-place Liberty (23-19-1, 9-6) by a full game and third-place teams Elon (27-16, 8-7) and Charleston Southern (18-28, 8-7) by two. Elon, which is 7-12 since a 14-game winning streak, dropped to 21-6 at Latham Park for the season.
Coastal Carolina’s seven-run explosion granted the Chanticleers a commanding 8-0 advantage midway through the third frame. The Phoenix came up with three runs in the bottom half of the third, but a Coastal Carolina run in the sixth gave the Chanticleers a comfortable 9-3 cushion.
Elon put up another three-run inning in the seventh to pull within 9-6, but it proved to be too little, too late. Another Coastal Carolina run in the eighth accounted for the game’s final score.
The Phoenix outhit the Chanticleers 11-6, but Coastal Carolina used six walks – including four in the fatal third frame – to negate that disadvantage. Elon, which committed four errors to the Chanticleers’ one, stranded 10 runners while Coastal Carolina left six men on base.
Chanticleer starter Seamus Donovan (4-3) allowed three earned runs on five hits and four walks while fanning three Phoenix in six innings. Coastal Carolina chased Elon lefty Whit Bryant (6-2) in the third, touching him for six earned runs on two hits and five walks in two and 2/3 innings. Bryant logged three Ks.
Justin Owens (2-for-3, 2 runs, RBI, HR, BB), Steve Pinnochio (2-for-4, 2 runs, triple, SB) and Ryan McGraw (1-for-3, 2 runs, 2 RBI, BB, SB, SF) keyed the Chanticleers. Elon was led by Jim Swenson (3-for-5, run, 2 RBI, double, SB), Bryant (3-for-5, 2 runs, RBI, double) and Gary Morris (2-for-4, RBI).
The Phoenix travels to No. 9 North Carolina for a 6 p.m. contest Monday. Coastal Carolina plays at The Citadel at 3 p.m. Tuesday.
-- 100 YEARS OF ELON BASEBALL-- Game Box Score
