ELON, N.C. – Elon's Ryan Kinsella crushed a two-run home run in the 10th inning and Spencer Medick pitched 9 1/3 innings of one run ball as Elon finished off the sweep of UNCG, 3-1, in Southern Conference action at Latham Park in Elon, N.C. on Sunday afternoon.
With the score tied at one in the home half of the 10th, the Elon faithful erupted as Kinsella connected on the fifth pitch of the at-bat with a no-doubt home run to left field to stun UNCG and hand the Spartans their third straight loss.
Elon (26-20, 16-8 SoCon) held UNCG to five hits for the second straight game and Medick pitched the game of a life time as he set a career high in strikeouts (13) and innings pitched (9.1).
UNCG (21-21, 6-15 SoCon) was unable to figure out the crafty left-hander as it was retired in order in six of nine plus innings.
UNCG's Zach Leach saw his 17-game hitting streak come to a halt as the junior went 0-for-4 on the day. However, Thomas Troelstrup extended his to nine games as the Tallahassee, Fla., native went 1-for-4 with a single to third in the fifth inning.
The Spartans drew first blood after Christian Wolfe hit an RBI single to left to give UNCG its first and only lead of the game and series, 1-0. Troelstrup and Cambric Moye hit back-to-back singles to put runners on first and second with one out in the top half of the fifth to set the table for Wolfe. Wolfe didn't disappoint as he delivered the Spartans only run of the game.
The Phoenix responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the sixth inning to tie it up at 1. Alex Swim hit a double to left to start the rally for Elon. Sebastian Gomez advanced him to third on a sacrifice bunt. Following back-to-back walks, the Spartans Tyler Hollstegge uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Swim to score and to tie the game.
Both offenses fell silent until the 10th inning when Elon provided the home crowd with a dramatic ending. With two outs and no body on, Gomez was hit by a pitch to start the rally. The next batter, Kinsella capped off the sweep as he hit his sixth home run on the season and propelled Elon to victory.
Despite striking out 13 in 9 1/3 innings of work, Medick ended up with a no-decision on the day. He scattered five hits and didn't walk a batter and allowed one run on 118 pitches. Jordan Darnell (1-1) picked up his first win of the season as he pitched 2/3 of an inning of relief and struck out one.
Hollstegge (4-5) took the tough luck loss as he was masterful through 4 1/3 innings. He allowed two runs (both earned) on three hits and struck out four batters on 68 pitches.
Wolfe paced the Spartan offense as he went 2-for-3. Swim and Gomez enjoyed multi-hit games for the Phoenix as both collected two hits on the day.
UNCG was swept for the second time this season after going 23 months without being swept. The Spartans have dropped eight of their last 11 games.
The schedule doesn't get any easier as UNCG will return to action when it travels to Boone, N.C. for a three game Southern Conference series to face the Southern Conference leading Appalachian State Mountaineers. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Friday evening.
AGATE
Elon 3, UNCG 1 (Apr 29, 2012 at Elon, N.C.)
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UNCG................ 000 010 000 0 - 1 5 0 (21-21, 6-15)
Elon................ 000 001 000 2 - 3 8 0 (26-20, 16-8)
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Pitchers: UNCG - Lee Gilliam; Tyler Hollstegge(6) and Cambric Moye. Elon - Spencer Medick;
Jordan Darnell(10) and Alex Swim.
Win-Jordan Darnell(1-1) Loss-Tyler Hollstegge(4-5) T-2:34 A-438
HR ELON - Ryan Kinsella.
Weather: 71 degrees and sunny
- UNCG -
