Baseball Southern Conference

Elon Dumps Duke In 11

DURHAM, N.C. -- Duke junior Tim Layden hit two home runs, but the Blue Devils fell to the Elon Phoenix, 9-8, in 11 innings Wednesday at Jack Coombs Field. Elon scored two runs in the top of the 11th and held on as the Blue Devils scored one in the bottom of the inning to win its season opener.

"I'm pleased with the way we competed, but not with the way we executed," said Duke head coach Bill HIllier. "We knew coming into the season that we'd need to be strong in all areas of the game, but we made three errors today. We can't do that. I'm pleased with 13 hits, but they outhit us. We need to do a better job of focusing and come back ready to play against Cincinnati on Friday."

The Blue Devils took a 2-0 lead in the first inning when Layden hit Duke's first home run of 2004, a two-run shot over the right field wall.

Elon took a 4-2 lead with a four-run fourth inning. After the Phoenix scored two runs on four consecutive one-out hits, freshman right hander Billy Muldowney got Paul Bennett to fly out to right for the second out. He appeared to have pitched out of the jam when Evan Tartaglia hit a foul ball to left field. But the ball was dropped and Tartaglia took advantage of his second chance, hitting a two-run double to right that gave Elon the lead.

The Phoenix increased the lead to 5-2 in the sixth inning. Drew Davis drew a one-out walk and advanced to third when a single to left-center by Bennett got past Duke left fielder Senterrio Landrum. He scored on a ground ball to second base by Tartaglia.

Duke scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth to cut the lead to 5-4, but was unable to reclaim the lead as it left the bases loaded. Mike Miello led off with a double and Bryan Smith followed with a walk. Adam Loftin's single plated Miello to make it a 5-3 game and Smith scored on a wild pitch. The Blue Devils had the bases loaded with just one out, but Elon right hander Lance Cole recorded a strikeout and a fielder's choice to get out of the inning.

Elon added an insurance run in the top of the seventh when Chris Price drew a two-out walk and scored on a single by Matt Stocco.

Layden pulled the Blue Devils back to within one when he belted his second home run of the day off the scoreboard in right field to lead off the bottom of the seventh. Then with two outs, Corey Whiting beat out an infield single, stole second base and scored on a single to left by Brian Hernandez, evening the score at 6-6.

Elon reclaimed the lead, 7-6, in the eighth inning. Davis led off with a double to centerfield and after advancing to third on a sacrifice bunt, scored on a bloop single to left by Tartaglia.

Duke evened the score in the bottom of the ninth inning to send the game into extra innings. After drawing a leadoff walk, Layden advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, third on a ground out and scored on a wild pitch.

The Blue Devils loaded the bases on three walks in the bottom of the 10th, but failed to score when George Blystone got a popup to end the inning.

Grant Rembert led off the 11th with a double down the left field line and advanced to third on an error by the left fielder. After a walk, senior right hander Zach Schreiber got Evan Erickson to pop up and then struck out Stocco. Schreiber was within one strike of getting out of the inning, but Tyler Stevens hit a 1-2 pitch to left-center that gave Elon a 9-7 advantage.

Duke continued to fight in the bottom of the 11th, as Whiting led off with the first triple of his young career and scored on a ground out by Hernandez. John Berger and Lee Lawrence kept things going with an infield single and walk, respectively, but Elon pitcher Kevin Regan secured the win with a game-ending double play.

Duke, which fell to 2-1, hosts a three-game series with Cincinnati beginning Friday at 3:00 p.m.