BOX SCORE (PDF)
GREENSBORO, N.C. – A three-run eighth inning by Elon proved to be the difference Saturday as the Phoenix rallied for a 6-3 victory over the UNCG baseball team at the UNCG Baseball Stadium. The Spartans fall to 8-9 overall and 0-2 in league play while Elon improves to 10-8 and 4-4.
UNCG recorded double figures in hits for the fifth time in the last six games, but left 11 runners on base. Sophomore outfielder Eric Kalbfleisch (Pilot Mountain, N.C./North Stokes) went 3-for-4 at the dish with one RBI while seven other Spartans recorded base knocks. Redshirt sophomore outfielder Ray Crawford (Greensboro, N.C/Dudley) accounted for the other run batted in.
The Blue and Gold received a strong outing from starter and sophomore Lee Gilliam (Chapel Hill, N.C./Chapel Hill) as he tossed 6.2 innings – giving up three runs on seven hits with five strikeouts. The loss went to senior Corey Taylor (Fallston, Md./Fallston) who allowed three runs (two earned) on two hits in one inning pitched.
Alex Swim tripled with one out in the top of the first before Antonio Alvarez grounded out to score him for the first run of the game. UNCG responded right back in the bottom of the first. With two outs, senior infielder Trevor Edwards (Toronto, Ontario, Canada/Taddle Creek Academy) walked before classmate Lloyd Enzor (Whiteville, N.C./Southeastern CC) singled. Juniors Cambric Moye (Goldsboro, N.C./Eastern Wayne) and Kalbfleisch followed with consecutive infield singles as Edwards came across the plate to tie the score.
Elon received a RBI triple by Alex Lynch to go ahead 2-1 in the second, but the Spartans scored two runs on a hit and two Phoenix errors to retake the lead. Crawford drove in one of the runs with a RBI single before redshirt freshman infielder Nin Marrero scored on one of the Elon miscues.
The pitchers settled in for the next four innings as neither team was able to score. The Spartans turned a double play in fourth to eliminate the visitors' best chance for a run.
Gilliam recorded the first two outs of the seventh inning before Sebastian Gomez was able to tie the game at three on a RBI single. Taylor then came on to pitch and got Swim to fly out to center to keep the contest level.
Edwards singled up the middle to lead off the bottom of the seventh, but pinch runner Zac MacAneney (Gibsonville, N.C./Western Alamance) was picked off. Enzor was then hit by a pitch, but Moye and Kalbfleisch failed to move him any further.
Tyler McVicar provided the big blow in the eighth, ripping a two-out, two-run double before a Spartan error allowed a third run to score – putting the Phoenix in front 6-3. UNCG recorded one hit in each of the final two innings but did not threaten.
The Blue and Gold will try to salvage the series finale tomorrow as the teams will square off beginning at 1 p.m.
- UNCG -
