CHARLESTON, SC Third-seeded Elon scored six runs in three innings to take a come-from-behind 11-9 victory in extra-innings over fifth-seeded UNC Greensboro in an elimination round of the 2007 Southern Conference Tournament Friday evening at Joe Riley Park.
After being down 8-5 going into the eighth, the
Phoenix cut the Spartan lead to two on a Chase Austin groundout. Elon scored two runs in the ninth to tie the game at eight. After recording back-to-back singles, Elon's Mike Melillo sent a RBI single through the right side to cut the Spartan lead to one. Ryan Addison picked up a RBI double before Melillo attempted to plate the go-ahead run. Rightfielder Sean Snell threw him out at home to prevent the run. Phoenix reliever Tom Porter retired three straight Spartans to send the game into extra-innings.
Jordy Snyder gave the Phoenix the go-ahead run in the top of the tenth. Elon loaded the bases with no outs before Snyder plated Chase Austin on a sacrifice fly. Davis gave the Phoenix the three-run advantage on a two-run single to center, making it 11-8 Elon.
The Spartans opened up the tenth with back-to-back singles and two outs later, Tim Carrier loaded the bases with a base hit to center. Matt Gaski capitalized for a RBI single to left to cut the Elon lead to two, but Porter recorded the final out to secure the win.
Porter (3-2) earned the win after allowing just one run on four hits in 3-1/3 innings of relief. Starter Zach Booker pitched six innings for the Phoenix and struck out a game-high six batters.
Kory Judd (4-5) took the loss after giving up four runs (three earned) on four hits in 1-1/3 innings of work. Junior starter Matt Gibbs struck out three batters for UNCG.
Elon (32-28) struck for five runs in the top of the second to take an early 5-0 lead. With the bases loaded and one out, Chris Dove drew a walk to score Addison. Adam Weaver followed with a two-run single up the middle and Pat Irvine capped off the inning with a two-run triple.
UNCG (30-30) responded in the same inning with five runs of its own. Adam Deleo capitalized with the bases loaded to plate Ricky Orton on single. Designated hitter Sam Martin drove in a run with a single to left and was followed by a sacrifice fly by Carrier. Gaski loaded the bases again with a single and Guy Welsh closed out the inning with a two-run single to center.
The Spartans took a one-run advantage in the fourth, 5-6 UNCG. Gaski reached on a walk and two batters later, was brought home on an Orton fielder's choice.
UNCG scored a pair of runs in the seventh to take an 8-5 lead. Welsh led-off with a two-bagger down the leftfield line and was brought home on a single by Orton. Sean Snell followed with double to right to score Orton for the three-run advantage.
Welsh finished 3-for-6 with two RBI on the evening, while Orton tallied two hits and two RBI for the Spartans.
The Spartans close out the year with 30 wins as head coach Mike Gaski finishes his 17th season as the only coach in UNCG's history.
AGATE
Score by Innings R H E
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Elon................ 050 000 012 3 - 11 15 0
UNC Greensboro...... 050 100 200 1 - 9 15 2
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Pitchers: UNCG Gibbs; Gibson (8); Judd (8); Shelton (10)
Pitchers: Elon Booker; Britt (7); Porter (7)
Win Tom Porter (3-2) Loss Kory Judd (4-5)
- UNCG -
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