GREENSBORO, NC A two-run homerun by Elon's Bennett Davis in the ninth pushed the Phoenix ahead of UNC Greensboro, 5-4. After holding off the Spartans in the bottom half of the inning, Elon came away with the Saturday afternoon victory and tied the weekend series at apiece.
UNCG took an early 1-0 lead and allowed Elon to reach base just three times before the Phoenix took a 2-1 lead in the fifth. The maroon and gold nabbed one more in inning six before the Spartans tied the game at 3-3 with a two-run homer by Corey Overholtzer. A solo by Ricky Orton in the ninth gave UNCG the 4-3 lead heading into the final inning, but a dual RBI shot over the left center wall by Davis gave Elon the lead and the eventual 5-4 victory.
With the series now tied at 1-1, UNCG dropped to 26-16 overall with an 11-6 mark in the Southern Conference. Elon improved to 32-14, 14-6 in the SoCon.
Elon's Thomas Girdwood (3-0) captured the win after coming to the mound in the eighth. He faced just four batters and struck out two of them. The Spartan's Greg Smith (2-1) took the loss after 2.2 inningsw on the rubber. Smith led both teams with four strikeouts on the afternoon.
The UNCG bats were led by Corey Overholtzer who was 3-for-4 with dual RBI, a run, and a home run. Ricky Orton was 2-for-4 with two RBI, a run, a double, and a solo home run. Elon's Bennett Davis went 3-for-5 with two runs, a pair of RBI, and the game-winning home run.
The Spartans jumped on the board first with a run in the home half of the opening inning. After reaching on a fielder's choice to the shortstop, Greg Feltes was rounded home as Ricky Orton bounced a double off the centerfield wall.
After four scoreless innings, the Phoenix snatched a one-run lead. Harry Austin lifted a two out triple to the right field wall to bring in Neal Prichard and Chris Dove. The hit was Elon's third of the game. They bumped it up by one more in the sixth with a run scored off of a left field single by Greg Annarummo.
UNCG tied the game at 3-3 in the home half of the sixth with a two-run home run. Corey Overholtzer cranked the ball over the right field wall to bring around Sean Snell from first. Two innings later, Ricky Orton parked his 11th home run of the season on Kenilworth Street and pushed UNCG ahead of Elon, 4-3.
In the top of the ninth, Donny Jobe let loose a left center three-bagger to bring the winning run to the plate. With one away and a 2-2 count, Davis connected and sent the ball out of left center. After holding off UNCG in the bottom half of the inning, Elon came away with the 5-4 victory and tied the weekend series at a game apiece.
The Spartans and the Phoenix return to UNCG Baseball Stadium tomorrow for a 1pm first pitch.
For news about UNCG baseball, complete season schedule, and any other information regarding Spartan athletics log onto www.UNCGSpartans.com.
# # UNCG # #
Elon 5, UNC Greensboro 4 (Apr 26, 2008 at Greensboro, NC)
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Elon........................... 000 021 002 - 5 10 2 (32-14, 14-6 SoCon)
UNC Greensboro...... 100 002 010 - 4 8 1 (26-16, 11-6 SoCon)
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Pitchers: Elon - Daniel Britt; Jared Kernodle(7); Jesse Lewter(7); Thomas Girdwood(8).
UNC Greensboro - Wes McCall; Greg Smith(6); Kory Judd(9).
Win-Thomas Girdwood(3-0)
Loss-Greg Smith(2-1)
HR ELON - Bennett Davis (13).
HR UNCG - Ricky Orton (11); Corey Overholtzer (3).
Kernodle faced 1 batter in the 7th.
