Story courtesy of Elon sports information
Elon 9, Duke 3
ELON, N.C. -- The Elon Phoenix baseball team grabbed an early lead and never looked back as it cruised to a 9-3 non-conference baseball victory over the Duke Blue Devils in Elon’s home opener from Latham Park. The Phoenix now sits at 2-2 on the year, while the Blue Devils dropped to 2-3 overall in 2006.
After a scoreless first inning, Elon pushed across two runs in the bottom of the second to grab a 2-0 lead. After a walk to Grant Rembert (1-for-3, 1 run, 2 RBI), a Chris Vasami (3-for-3, 1 run, 1 RBI) single put runners on the corners with no outs. Adam Weaver’s (0-for-3, 1 RBI) swinging bunt scored Rembert and advanced Vasami to second, but saw the first out of the inning recorded. Vasami would eventually score on a sacrifice fly from Ryan Addison (1-for-1, 1 run, 1 RBI) for the second run of the half inning.
The Phoenix upped its lead to 3-0 in the third when Paul Bennett (2-for-2, 3 runs, 1 RBI) scored on a double play ball.
Duke scored its first run in the fourth when, after advancing to third on a failed pickoff attempt, Javier Soccoro (0-for-3, 1 run) crossed the plate on a wild pitch.
The bottom of the fourth was the big inning for Elon as the Phoenix plated four runs. After retiring the first two hitters, Duke just could not find a way to record the third before Elon got things going. Addison singled, stole second and scored when Donny Jobe (1-for-5, 1 run, 1 RBI) singled to left. Jobe later came home when Chris Price (1-for-4, 1 run, 1 RBI) singled up the middle. Bennett, who had reached via a hit-by-pitch, scored again when Rembert reached on an infield single. Vasami’s double drove in Price with the fourth run of the frame.
In the top of the sixth for Duke, Brett Bartles (0-for-4, 1 run) reached on an error and would advance to second on Jimmy Gallagher’s (1-for-4, 1 run) single. Both men would score on a double to right center off the bat of Jonathan Nicolla (1-for-4, 2 RBI).
Elon added one run in each the bottom of the sixth and bottom of the seventh to provide the final margin of victory.
Phoenix starter Ryan Basham (1-0) picked up the victory after hurling 5.1 innings and fanning five. He allowed six hits and one walk. All three Duke runs were charged to Basham, but only one was earned. Chad Tilley, Justin Bors, Kory Radford and Tom Porter combined to throw 3.2 scoreless innings in relief of Basham.
Gallagher (1-1) suffered the loss for Duke after lasting 3.0 innings and giving up three runs on three hits and four walks. He struck out two hitters.
Elon pounded out 10 total hits to six for Duke on the afternoon. Both teams committed two errors.
Up next for Elon will be a home series with Fordham this weekend. The teams will play a single game Saturday at 1:00 p.m. from Latham Park before playing two beginning at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday.
Story courtesy of Furman sports information
UNC Asheville 5, Furman 3 (11 inn.)
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Edmond Locklear delivered a pinch-hit home run in the ninth inning to tie the game and scored the game winner in the 11th inning to lift UNC Asheville to a 5-3 victory over Furman in the season opener for both teams Wednesday at Furman Stadium.
With Furman holding a 3-2 lead in the ninth, Locklear belted Paladin reliever David Mitchell's offering over the right center field fence to tie the game at 3-3. In the 11th, Locklear was hit by Paladin reliever Butch Pucetas to lead off the frame and later scored the go-ahead run on Matt Henson's infield single. The Bulldogs' Elliott Arrington followed with two-out single to right field to score Steven Burnish for a 5-3 advantage.
Chris White (1-0), who pitched the final three innings, survived a shaky final frame to earn the victory for the Bulldogs (1-0). Butch Pucetas (0-1) absorbed the loss for the Paladins (0-1).
Arrington homered and drove in three runs as part of a 4-for-6 performance to pace UNC-Asheville's attack. Furman, which could muster only seven hits, was led at the plate by Tony Maccani, who went 2-for-4.
Furman grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first inning after Andrew Greene reached on an error and came home in front of Jay Jackson's double to center field.
UNC Asheville tied the game at 1-1 in the fifth inning against Paladin reliever Matt Klinker. With two outs, Arrington doubled down the left field line to score Kyle Smith.
The Paladins answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame to take a 3-1 lead. Maccani singled to lead off and scored on Ben Terry's triple down the right field line. Terry then crossed home plate on Andrew Greene's infield hit.
Arrington led off the UNCA eighth with a home run to left center off Paladin reliever Mason Smith. Bulldog pinch-hitter Johnny Martinez followed with a double to right center, but Smith recovered by retiring the next two hitters on groundouts and striking out Rob Vernon to end the threat.
The Bulldogs tied the game at 3-3 in the ninth inning on Locklear's blast.
Furman will entertain High Point in a doubleheader this Saturday at Furman Stadium beginning at 1:00 p.m.
Story courtesy of Wofford sports information
High Point 8, Wofford 3
SPARTANBURG, SC ? High Point University erased an early 3-1 deficit to post an 8-3 win over Wofford College Wednesday afternoon at Russell C. King Field.
High Point took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Jeff Cowan walked, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, advanced to third on a throwing error on a pickoff attempt, and scored on a wild pitch.
Wofford scored three times in the bottom of the first. First baseman Stephen Johnson led off with a walk and moved to second on a one-out walk to third baseman Shane Kirkley. Shortstop Brandon Waring doubled to drive in both runners. Catcher John Brandt doubled home Waring for a 3-1 Wofford lead.
High Point tied the game in the second. Designated hitter Chris Marks walked, moved to second on a balk and to third on a wild pitch before scoring on an infield grounder by second baseman Dustin Holtzman. Shortstop Alfie Wheeler followed with a single and Cowan was safe on an infield error. Wheeler scored on the front end of a double steal to knot the game at 3.
The Panthers took the lead with a single run in the third when rightfielder Mark Shorey doubled down the right field line, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a single by Marks.
High Point scored twice in the fourth when Holtzman doubled and scored on a single by Wheeler. Wheeler would score on a sacrifice fly by Cowan.
HPU added two runs in the fifth when Wheeler drew a bases loaded walk for one run and Billy Aguiar and scored on Cowan’s second sacrifice fly in as many innings.
Adam Wood took the loss for Wofford in his first career start. He went 3.1 innings and allowed six runs, four earned, and struck out one. High Point starter Matt Christie improved to 2-0 on the year with 5.1 innings of work. He allowed just three hits and struck out four.
Wofford will host Dayton in a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. at King Field.