ELON, NC – Senior starter Ryan Falcon allowed just three runs and scattered six hits in seven innings of work as UNC Greensboro defeated Southern Conference rival Elon, 12-3, on Friday evening at Latham Park. The win marks the first time the Spartans have won in Elon since 2001.
Falcon (5-6) struck out a game-high five batters in the victory, while sophomore Kory Judd gave up one hit and struck out three in two innings of relief.
Steven Hensley (7-3) took the loss after giving up seven runs on eight hits in five innings on the mound.
UNCG (23-19, 9-7 SoCon) grabbed the quick 1-0 lead in the first when senior Guy Welsh sent a two-out home run over the leftfield fence, his fourth of the season. Elon (24-21, 11-8 SoCon) immediately answered with a run in the same inning when Chris Dove scored on a sacrifice fly from Jordy Snyder.
The Spartans plated two runs in the third, taking a 3-1 lead. With two outs, Tim Carrier doubled and Matt Gaski walked before Welsh laced a double to right center, scoring both runners. The Phoenix added a run in the fourth on a Pat Irvine homer to right, cutting UNCG's lead to one.
UNCG opened the fifth inning with two hits and a walk to load the bases for junior Greg Feltes, who sent a RBI single to left field. Sean Snell followed with a single to right-center, scoring Welsh. A Spartan groundout brought Ricky Orton home and Feltes scored UNCG's final run of the inning on an Elon wild pitch, giving UNCG a 7-2 advantage.
After the Phoenix picked up another run in the fifth, the Spartans struck for four runs in the seventh to give UNCG the commanding 11-3 lead. Feltes opened up scoring when he crushed a two-run roundtripper over the leftfield wall. With the bases loaded and two-outs, Gaski and Welsh drew back-to-back walks to plate two runs for the Spartans.
Brandon Harvey gave the Spartans the 12-3 lead after he connected for a RBI single through the left side that scored Snell in the eighth.
UNCG out-hit Elon 16-7 and all nine position starters for UNCG collected at least one hit, while four tallied two or more hits. Welsh led the Spartan offense by going 3-for-4 with a game-high four RBI. Both Harvey and Feltes finished with three runs each.
The two teams return to the diamond on Saturday for game two beginning at 7 pm.
AGATE
Score by Innings R H E
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UNC Greensboro...... 102 040 410 - 12 16 1
Elon......................... 100 110 000 - 3 7 1
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Pitchers: UNCG – Falcon; Judd (8)
Pitchers: Elon – Hensley; Ebert (6); Jones (7); Vasami (8)
Win-Ryan Falcon (5-6) Loss-Steven Hensley (7-3)
- UNCG -
