Box Score GREENSBORO, N.C. – Leading 8-4 entering the ninth inning, UNCG saw Elon score seven runs in the frame as the Phoenix walked away with an 11-9 victory Tuesday evening at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
The Spartans (17-19) racked up a season-high 19 hits and have now reached double figures in their last three games. UNCG also notched a home run for the 16th time in 17 contests. Senior outfielder Tyler Long and sophomore Ryne Sigmon tallied three hits each to lead the Spartans while senior outfielder Aaron Wright scored three runs. Junior infielder Collin Woody extended his hitting streak to eight games with a pair of base knocks and has now reached base safely in 15-straight outings. Andy Moore had three hits to pace Elon (19-19).
Sean Byrnes was credited with the win in relief and improved to 1-0 after tossing 2 2/3 innings and allowing a run on a hit with two strikeouts. Junior LHP Bryant Stafford was tagged with the loss and dropped to 3-2. He surrendered six runs on five hits with two walks and two strikeouts.
UNCG struck first in the bottom of the first. With two away, Wright doubled to left center and scored from second when Woody followed with a single up the middle. The Spartans increased their lead to 2-0 in the bottom of the second thanks to a RBI infield single by senior outfielder Zac MacAneney.
The Blue and Gold put together some more two-out magic in the bottom of the third as Long doubled through the right side and scored on a Jake Kusz RBI single. Senior outfielder Eric Kalbfleisch then drew a walk before Sigmon sent a single through the right side that was good enough to score Kusz from second base and make it a 4-0 contest. A Woody RBI single and a Kusz sacrifice fly in the fourth inning left UNCG with a 6-0 advantage after four complete innings.
D.J. Paone helped the Phoenix break on to the scoreboard for the first time in the top of the fifth as a couple of walks put runners in scoring position. He would hit a high chopper on the infield that went for a single and plated James Venuto. Elon threatened more but a strikeout and foul out limited the visitors to just one run.
Venuto hit a three-run home run in the top of the sixth that pulled the Phoenix within 6-4 but the Spartans scored single runs in the sixth and seventh innings to re-establish a four run lead. Elon loaded the bases in the top of the eighth but did not score sending the game to the top of the ninth. A trio of consecutive singles to begin the inning scored a run for the Phoenix and ignited a big rally. Elon scored seven runs in the inning on seven hits to take an 11-8 advantage.
The Blue and Gold mounted a rally in the bottom of the frame as Kalbfleisch doubled with one out. Pinch hitter Nick Chapman then singled up the middle before MacAneney singled with two outs and plated Kalbfleisch. With the tying run at first and senior infielder Hunter King at the dish, a groundout to short terminated the threat and ended the game.
UNCG returns to action this weekend, beginning a three-game Southern Conference series at Mercer Friday at 6 p.m.
Keep up with the UNCG baseball team all season by logging on to www.uncgspartans.com and following the Spartans' official Twitter accounts @UNCGBaseball/@uncgsports.
