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Spartans fall as Elon completes series sweep
GREENSBORO, N.C. – UNC Greensboro held a 2-1 lead after three innings of play, but Elon scored 17 of the next 18 runs en route to a 19-5 over the Spartans as the Phoenix completed the series sweep on Sunday afternoon at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
Elon starter Jared Kernodle moved to 3-0 on the season after pitching 5 1/3 innings and giving up just three runs, two of them earned, on seven hits. Warren Slack picked up the loss for the Spartans (13-15, 1-9 Southern Conference) after allowing four runs on three hits in four innings.
Scott Riddle led the Phoenix (19-10, 8-4 SoCon) at the plate as he went 3-3 with three RBI and two runs scored on the afternoon. Justin Hilt and Mike Melillo also had three RBI and a pair of hits for Elon.
Zach Leach went 2-3 with an RBI and a run scored for UNCG, while Ed Jayjack and Joey Frabasile also knocked in a run for the Spartans.
The Phoenix got on the board first in the second inning as Matt Hinson led off with a walk before moving over to second on a balk. After a fly out to center field, Riddle singled to center to score Hinson and put Elon ahead, 1-0.
The Spartans battled back though to take the lead in the bottom of the third inning. With one out, Chris Barker struck out, but reached first on a third-strike wild pitch. After a foul out, Ray Quinones singled to right center to put runners on the corners.
Jayjack then popped up to left field, but the Phoenix left fielder lost the ball in the sun and it dropped into shallow left field to score Barker and move Quinones to third. Quinones went on to score later in the inning on a wild pitch to put UNCG ahead, 2-1.
That was the only lead for UNCG on the afternoon as Elon immediately responded with three runs in the top of the fourth inning. Elon loaded the bases with only one out on a pair of walks sandwiched around a single. Harry Austin then singled through the left side to score a pair of runs. Elon added a sacrifice fly to score a run later in the inning to take a 4-2 lead.
The Phoenix continued to pour on the runs in the fifth inning as they added seven runs to blow open the game and extend their lead to 11-2. Elon loaded the bases with no outs on a pair of walks sandwiched around a single again. Elon scored on an RBI single and a wild pitch to score a pair of runs.
Elon went on to add another pair of runs on a double by Riddle and then added three more runs on a groundout, double and single to give the visitors a nine-run lead.
Frabasile and Alex Frederick led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a walk and single, respectively, for the Spartans. Frabasile then came around to score on a fielding error by Elon to make it an 11-3 contest.
Grant McCoury led off the seventh inning with a walk for Elon and then Melillo stepped to the plate and belted a home run to left center. Ben Scott then delivered a pinch-hit single before scoring on a double by Neal Pritchard to make it 14-3.
The Phoenix weren't done their though as they put up five unearned runs in the top of the ninth inning to make it 19-3.
UNCG went on to add two runs on a pair of doubles by Leach and Frabasile after a one-out walk to make the final score 19-5.
The Spartans will return to action on Wednesday as they host SoCon foe Davidson for a 7 p.m. contest at the UNCG Baseball Stadium in the second of three midweek games they will play this season.
AGATE
Elon 19, UNC Greensboro 5
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Elon................ 010 370 305 - 19 16
1 (19-10, 8-4)
UNC Greensboro...... 002 001 002 - 5 10
2 (13-15, 1-9)
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Pitchers: Elon - Jared Kernodle; Jim Stokes(6); Jordan Darnell(8);
J.D. Reichenbach(9) and Mike Melillo; Ben Scott. UNC Greensboro -
Warren Slack; Matt Parish(5); Greg Smith(5); Alex Shelton(5); Wes
McBride(8) and Zach Leach.
Win-Jared Kernodle (3-0) Loss-Warren Slack (2-6)
T-3:24 A-284
HR ELON - Justin Hilt; Grant McCoury; Mike Melillo.
Weather: 77 and sunny
Parish faced 3 batters in the 5th.
- UNCG -
