GREENSBORO, N.C. - UNC Greensboro scored one run in the bottom of the eighth to pull within 3-1, but Elon exploded for nine runs in the top of the ninth to blow the game open as the Spartans fell to the Phoenix, 12-1, on Saturday afternoon at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
Elon starter Daniel Britt collected his third win of the season for the Phoenix (18-10, 7-4 Southern Conference) after allowing just one run on three hits in seven innings of work. Blake Hassebrock gave up three runs on eight hits in six innings, while striking out seven, to pick up the loss for the Spartans (13-14, 1-8 SoCon).
Harry Austin and Scott Riddle each went 3-4 with a pair of RBI to lead Elon, while Neal Pritchard added a 2-5 performance with three RBI and two runs scored. Every starter for Elon recorded at least one hit and scored at least one run.
Sophomore Kris Richards extended his hitting streak to a season-high nine games after going 1-3 with an RBI. Eric Brindle also went 1-3 and added a run scored for the Spartans.
The Phoenix got on the board first as they pushed two runs across the plate in the second inning. Ryan Adams led off the inning with a walk and moved over to second on a single by Pritchard. After back-to-back strikeouts, Riddle singled to center field to score Adams and Austin followed with an RBI single of his own to give Elon the early 2-0 lead.
The game would stay like that for a while as Britt retired 11 straight Spartans during a stretch from the second to sixth inning.
Elon added what appeared to be an insurance run in the top half of the sixth inning as Matt Hinson led off with a triple down the right field line. Riddle stepped to the plate two batters later and singled up the middle to score Hinson and make it a 3-0 game in favor of the visitors.
The Spartans finally got something going in the bottom of the eighth as Brindle led off the inning with a double to right center. That was the end of the afternoon for Britt as Kyle Webb came in to replace him on the mound.
Richards took the second pitch he saw from Webb up the middle to score Brindle and pull UNCG within, 3-1.
The Phoenix would respond in a massive way in the top of the ninth by putting 12 batters to the plate and scoring nine runs en route to taking a 12-1 lead. Austin led off the inning with a single, but was thrown out at second on a fielder's choice by Justin Hilt.
Alex Swim then doubled to left center to score Hilt before Mike Melillo singled up the middle to score Swim and make it a 5-1 contest. After Adams walked to put runners on first and second, Pritchard homered to center field to put the Phoenix ahead, 8-1.
After a Elon fly out made it two outs in the inning, Seth Canipe and Riddle hit back-to-back singles to put runners on the corners. Austin followed with a single through the left side of the infield to score Canipe. Hilt then hit his third home run of the season to left center to give the Phoenix a 12-1 lead.
The two teams will wrap up the series on Sunday with a 1 p.m. contest at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
AGATE
Elon 12, UNC Greensboro 1
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Elon................ 020 001 009 - 12 16 1 (18-10, 7-4)
UNC Greensboro...... 000 000 010 - 1 4 0 (13-14, 1-8)
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Pitchers: Elon - Daniel Britt; Kyle Webb(8); Thomas Girdwood(9) and Alex Swim. UNC Greensboro - Blake Hassebrock; Tyler Hollstegge(7) and Ed Jayjack.
Win-Daniel Britt (3-2) Loss-Blake Hassebrock (0-2) T-2:34 A-346
HR ELON - Justin Hilt; Neal Pritchard.
Weather: 76 and sunny
Hassebrock faced 1 batter in the 7th.
Britt faced 1 batter in the 8th.
- UNCG -
