The Citadel 4, Appalachian State 0
Charleston, S.C. - The Citadel Baseball team used a stellar performance from starting pitcher Austin Pritcher and timely hits from the offense to win their Southern Conference opener on Friday night on a blustery evening at Riley Park.
Pritcher (Charleston, S.C.) hurled a career-high 8.0 innings, scattering five hits and striking out a career-best 13 batters without allowing a run or a walk. The win moves Pritcher to 3-0 on the season with an ERA of 0.82.
"I felt great out there tonight," said Pritcher, who was pitching on short rest. "I had a little bit of a short week, but actually felt better out there than I have in my first two starts. We made some great plays defensively tonight and that really helped me to settle in."
The 13 strikeouts are the most by a Citadel pitcher since March 12, 2010 when All-American Asher Wojciechowski struck out 14 in a game eerily similar to the one Pritcher threw tonight. In that game last season, "Wojo" hurled 8.0 innings and did not give up a run in a 4-0 shutout of Western Carolina to open conference play at Riley Park.
The Bulldogs (4-5, 1-0) got on the board with a little luck in the bottom of the second inning off Appalachian State (6-3, 0-1) starter Nathan Hyatt. With two outs, designated hitter Joe Jackson (Mauldin, S.C.) lined a base hit up the middle. Catcher Grant Richards (Morrisville, N.C.) was then hit by a pitch to put two aboard for freshman left fielder Hughston Armstrong (Columbia, S.C.), who was making his first career start. Armstrong dumped a blooper into shallow right fielder where ASU right fielder Jack Myers lost the ball in the lights allowing the ball to drop and both Jackson and Richards to score.
"I was really so excited to be starting in this game," said Armstrong. "I was nervous leading up to the start, but it was all about getting positive energy going right before the game and going out there and making things happen."
In the sixth inning, The Citadel would score another run when freshman third baseman Drew DeKerlegand (Pearland, Texas) crushed a solo shot to right center field for his first career homer. The Bulldogs would knock Hyatt from the game in the seventh when Nick Orvin (Moncks Corner, S.C.) doubled to left field on ball that was nearly caught before left fielder Ryan Arrowood tripped. Zach Joyce came out of the Appalachian State bullpen and two batters later, redshirt senior Matt Simonelli (Orlando, Fla.), who was making his first career start at shortstop, roped a base hit up the middle to score Orvin and put the Bulldogs in front, 4-0.
"It was probably the first time I have ever hit a home run while actually trying to," said DeKerlegand. "I hit the ball hard my first at-bat, so it was nice to get a hold of one on a fastball the second go around. It's important for us to get off to a good start so we can build momentum for the rest of the series."
That would be all the offense the Bulldogs would need on a night like this as Drew Mahaffey (Summerville, S.C.) came in to shut the door in the ninth inning. After allowing a leadoff single, Mahaffey settled down and got a pair of strikeouts to end the game.
"I thought Austin was exceptional tonight," said head coach Fred Jordan. "He threw four pitches for strikes and threw a ton of first-pitch strikes. It's always nice to win game one in any series, but especially starting out in the Southern Conference."
Simonelli and Jackson each collected a pair of hits to lead the Bulldogs offense, while Armstrong came in with a pair of RBI. Catcher Jeremy Dowdy led the ASU offense, going 2-for-4. Hyatt (1-2) took the loss for the Mountaineers after going 6.1 innings, allowing eight hits and four runs with three walks and eight strikeouts.
The Citadel and Appalachian State will conclude their three-game series on Saturday with a doubleheader that starts at 1 p.m. The final game of the series will then be played approximately one hour after the conclusion of game one. Severe weather forecasted for Sunday in Charleston has prompted the schedule change.
Davidson 1, Furman 0
DAVIDSON, N.C. - Junior LHP Chris Lamb struck out a season-high and went the distance to lead the Davidson Wildcats to a 1-0 victory over the Furman Paladins in both team's season-opener Friday night at Wilson Field.
Lamb (W, 1-1), who started the ninth in his last outing against Ohio, struck out 11 batters and walked just one in the three-hit shutout. The Davidson (6-6, 1-0 SoCon) offense gave him just one run of support on four hits, as freshman Kelly Myers (1-for-2, RBI) drove in junior Seth Freeman (1-for-3) in the third, but it was enough.
With the game clocking in just over two hours, Lamb and Furman (5-6, 0-1) starter Bobby Lyne (L, 0-1) put on a show in the old fashioned pitcher's duel. Both retired their first three hitters, and Lamb's only walk of the night was to Kevin O'Leary in the third but he got a fly out to Myers in right for the third out.
Lyne, who took the hard-luck loss despite allowing just one run on three hits and striking out eight in six innings, kept rolling into the second and made quick work of his first two Wildcats. Freeman went up the middle for the first hit of the game, and shortstop Michael Zeblo (1-for-2) took the free pass to keep the inning alive. Myers got the Wildcats' second two-out base hit, a slap shot into right field to score Freeman for what proved to be the game's only run.
After his third and fourth strikeouts, Lamb surrendered a two-out base hit to Will Owens in the third but got a fly out to freshman Forrest Brandt in the next at-bat. The Wildcats had a scoring chance in the bottom half when sophomore third baseman Jack McLindon (1-for-4) led off with a single to left and was sacrificed over by junior second baseman Calvin Sigelbaum, but Lyne retired the next two Wildcats to leave him on second.
A Furman Paladin got to second base for the first time in the fourth inning, when Will Miller doubled down the right field line, but like he did throughout the game, Lamb used another punch out to get back in the dugout.
Lyne and Lamb each faced the minimum in the fourth and fifth, and Davidson got its first runner to third base in the sixth inning. Sophomore first baseman Andrew Barna reached second on a two-out error by Lyne, who dropped an infield pop up, and moved to third on a wild pitch. Lyne also got out of the jam with a strikeout.
After Lamb put together his third straight one-two-three inning, reliever Jay Friedman took over for Lyne to start the seventh. For a second straight inning, the Wildcats got a runner on third, moving Zeblo around the bases with a little small ball. Zeblo singled to center field and was sacrificed by Myers, who nearly beat out the bunt down the third base line, and freshman catcher Daniel Gerow grounded out to second to move him to third. But the Wildcats ended the inning with a strikeout for the fifth straight inning.
Unable to put much together offensively, the Davidson defense did a nice job behind Lamb for a second straight outing. The Wildcats' lone error, though, gave Furman its best scoring chance of the evening in the eighth. With Lamb trying to make a 1-0 lead hold up, J.B. Jenkins slapped a one-out single up the middle and after stealing second, took third as Gerow's throw sailed into center field. But like he did all evening, Lamb came back with a pair of strikeouts to end the inning.
Friedman faced just the three Wildcats in the bottom of the eighth, allowing only one hit over the final two innings in relief and striking out three, but Lamb did the same to the Paladins in the top of the ninth to earn his first win of the season.
Lamb pitched the Wildcats' last complete game and only one of the 2010 season, his seven-inning, 16-strikeout 9-2 win over NC Central on April 17. Prior to that, Rob Wilson was the last Wildcat to have a complete game, tossing two in 2007.
With rain in the forecast for Sunday, Davidson and Furman will play a double-header tomorrow at 1 p.m.
Western Carolina 9, Akron 8
Forest City, N.C. - Western Carolina plated two runs with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning to rally past the Akron Zips on Friday afternoon in the Catamounts' first of three tournament games at McNair Field. WCU senior Stephen Notaro singled home Ross Heffley to tie the game at eight before freshman Aaron Attaway drove in the game winning run one batter later in the 9-8 victory.
Heffley singled with one out before later stealing second after the second out was recorded on a strikeout. Heffley eventually moved to third on a wild pitch with sophomore Tyler White walking to put runners at the corners. Notaro then laced a 1-0 pitch up the middle to plate Heffley, knotting the game at eight apiece. A second wild pitch of the inning moved White to third and Notaro to second where Attaway singled up the middle to score the go-ahead run in the form of White.
Due to the impending threat of inclement weather over the weekend, WCU officials have altered the schedule for the weekend at McNair Field. The Catamounts will face both Ohio State and Army on Saturday beginning with the Buckeyes at 11:00 am and the Black Knights at 3:00 pm. The abbreviated weekend schedule is now slated to include a Saturday night cap of Ohio State against Akron at 7:00 pm.
Senior reliever Brandon Johnson (3-0) picked up the win after tossing the final inning and a half out of the bullpen, entering the game with WCU trailing 8-7. Johnson threw 10 pitches, recording a pop-up out and inducing three-straight ground ball outs in the ninth to earn the victory for the Catamounts.
Ross Heffley led four Catamounts with multi-hit games with a 3-for-5 performance including a triple and two runs driven in and three runs scored. Notaro and junior Cameron Dullnig were both 2-for-4 with Notaro driving in a pair while Attaway finished 2-for-5 with the winning RBI.
Sophomore Taylor Sandefur allowed six runs on four hits through three innings in the start for WCU before giving way to junior Andrew Blackwell who gave up a run on two hits through an inning and a third. Four Catamount relievers then combined to hold Akron scoreless through the final four and two-thirds, limiting the Zips to two hits and pitching around four walks. Kyle Stewart struck out two in two innings of work out of the pen for WCU.
Western Carolina (7-3) took an early 2-0 lead in the home half of the first inning as Dullnig drew a one-out walk and moved to second on a wild pitch. Two batters later, Johns singled to right to drive in the game's first run, 1-0, WCU. Heffley gave the Catamounts a 2-0 lead when he touched home on an RBI ground out by White, who is playing this weekend in his hometown.
Akron cut the WCU lead in half with a run in the visitor's portion of the second on an RBI ground out before seizing the lead with a five-run top of the fifth inning. Back-to-back triples by the Zips' Drew Turocy and Samuel Trecasco drove in the first two-runs of the frame handing Akron its first lead of the game before a three-run home run by Sam Watkins capped the five-run rally.
The Catamounts answered in the bottom of the third as Notaro grounded out with the bases loaded allowing Heffley to scamper home to close within three, 6-3.
Akron (1-7) added a run in the top of the fifth as Brandon White homered to left field, stretching Akron's advantage back to four, 7-3.
WCU came back in the home half of the sixth inning to tie the game at seven, coming predominantly with two outs. Notaro opened the frame with a double to left field before back-to-back outs threatened waste the extra base hits. Cody Jones then singled up the middle to put runners at the corners ahead of Schultz who's single to right center plated Notaro. Heffley then drove a 2-0 pitch down the right field line for a two-RBI triple to score two runs.
Georgia Southern 4, St. John's 3
STATESBORO, Ga. - Matt Murray (Spring City, Pa.) threw five shutout innings in relief to earn the win in Georgia Southern's (7-3) 4-3 series-opening victory over St. John's (3-4) Friday night at J. I. Clements Stadium. Back-to-back doubles in the sixth inning broke open a 3-3 tie late in the game. Both bullpens factored into the decision, and only one run was allowed by either pen.
Michael Burruss (Marietta, Ga.) went perfect at the plate with three singles and a double in four at-bats. Burruss singled three straight times before doubling to lead off the seventh inning. Eric Phillips (Carrollton, Ga.) made his one hit count driving in Burruss, who plated the first Eagle run in the first inning, for the winning run.
Murray came in out of the bullpen for Chris Beck (Jefferson, Ga.), started the game and allowed just two hits but three runs in four innings, and went the distance striking out five batters in the process. Murray earned his second win of the season after allowing only three hits and no runs.
Stephen Rivera was tagged with his first loss of the season after allowing one run and four hits in 2.1 innings of action out of the bullpen. Rivera entered the game in relief of Sean Hagan, who started the contest for the Red Storm. Hagan allowed three runs and nine hits but got into trouble in the fifth inning.
St. John's led off the game with a run in the top of the first inning. Pat Talbut singled with one out in the inning and scored after three straight walks forced him in. Beck coaxed a double play out of Jeremy Baltz to escape the inning without further damage. Georgia Southern got the run back in the bottom half of the inning scoring with Payne, who tripled to lead off the bottom of the first, crossing the plate on an RBI single from Burruss.
The Eagles took a 2-1 lead in the second inning, but St. John's responded with two runs in the third inning. Andy Moye (Alpharetta, Ga.) scored on a double by Ben Morgan (Evans, Ga.), after reaching base on a two-out single in the bottom of the second. A walk, a stolen base and a fly out put Jimmy Brennan in position to score the first run from third base on a ground out by Joe Panik in the third inning. St. John's added the second run on a pair of errors by the Georgia Southern defense.
Victor Roache (Ypsilanti, Mich.) plated a two-out run in the fifth inning to tie the contest at 3-3. The sophomore outfielder used his only hit to score Shawn Payne (Stone Mountain, Ga.), who doubled with one out in the inning.
UNCG 6, Albany 5
GREENSBORO, N.C. - UNCG held a 6-2 lead after seven innings of play, but had to hold on late as the Spartans defeated Albany, 6-5, on Friday afternoon at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
Due to the threat of rain on Sunday, the two teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday. Saturday's game that was originally scheduled for 1 p.m. has been moved to 12 p.m. and Sunday's game has been moved to Saturday at 5 p.m.
Warren Slack moved to 2-0 on the season as he pitched five innings and allowed just four hits and two runs, while striking out three batters. David Kubiak suffered the hard luck loss after allowing four runs, all unearned, in 5 2/3 innings.
The Spartans (5-4) were led by Thomas Troelstrup who went a perfect 3-3 at the dish with a pair of RBI. Cambric Moye went 1-3 with an RBI and run scored, as well, while Drew Gehringer added a pair of hits.
Josh Nethaway paced the Great Danes (0-6) with his 2-4 performance at the plate with an RBI and run scored. Peter DiResta also had a nice day as he went 1-2 with an RBI and two runs scored.
The Spartans struck first in the game with a run in the first inning as they never trailed in the contest. With two outs and Bobby Martin on first after a walk, Trevor Edwards delivered a single to right field that was misplayed and allowed Martin to come all the way around from first to score and put UNCG ahead, 1-0.
The Great Danes came back with a run in the top of the third to knot the game at one. With two outs, DiResta was hit by a pitch and then stole second. Brian Bullard followed with a single to right field to score DiResta and make it 1-1.
UNCG immediately responded with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning, thanks in part to another Great Dane error. With runners on first and second after Ray Quinones reached on a fielder's choice, Troelstrup delivered a double that scored both runners to put the Spartans ahead, 3-1.
Albany pulled within a run in the top of the fifth inning when DiResta had an RBI triple to left center to make it a 3-2 game.
After scoring on another Great Dane error in the bottom of the sixth, UNCG seemed to take a commanding 6-2 lead in the bottom of the seventh. Quinones led off the inning with a walk and later scored on an RBI single up the middle by Moye. Moye would score later in the inning after an error by the Great Dane center fielder on a single by Gehringer.
Albany rallied to three runs in the top of the eighth, but it wasn't enough as UNCG was able to hold on for the 6-5 win.
The Spartans and Great Danes will wrap up the series on Saturday with a doubleheader at 12 p.m. and 5 p.m.
#18 College of Charleston 7, Western Kentucky 5
MT. PLEASANT, S.C. - #18 College of Charleston jumped out to an 4-0 first-inning lead and added three more in the fourth to hold off Western Kentucky University Friday night 7-5 in the CofC Classic at Patriots Point. Sophomore RHP David Peterson (Walnut Creek, Calif.) picked up the win for the Cougars, who improve to 9-1 on the season.
Senior CF Cole Rakar (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.) was hit by a pitch to lead off the game and junior RF Marty Gantt (North Augusta, S.C.) singled to right to advance Rakar to second. Redshirt-junior 3B Matt Leeds (Boca Raton, Fla.) redshirt-junior 3B Matt Leeds (Boca Raton, Fla.) ripped a two-run double to right center to put the Cougars on the board and moved to third on a wild pitch by WKU starter Tanner Perkins. Redshirt-junior 1B Jose Rodriguez (Hialeah, Fla.) brought home Leeds with a RBI groundout to short. CofC manufactured the fourth run after back-to-back singles by senior 2B Jesse Mesa (Mirimar, Fla.) and redshirt-freshman Daniel Aldrich (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.) put runners at first and third. On a steal attempt by Mesa, Aldrich scored from third before Mesa was tagged out in a rundown for the third out of the frame.
WKU scored a pair of runs in the second inning on RBI singles by Ryan Huck and Logan Robbins to cut the Cougars' lead to 4-2 and knotted the score at four runs apiece with two more in the fourth. An RBI triple by Jared Andreoli and a RBI groundout to third by Ivan Hartle accounted for the Hilltoppers runs in the fourth.
Charleston plated three more in the bottom half of the fourth, using a pair of WKU errors to take a 7-4 lead. Senior SS Jamie Holler (Rock Hill, S.C.) drove home junior PH Rob Harding (Columbia, S.C.) on a throwing error by the shortstop and Mesa scored on a sacrifice fly to left by Rakar. A RBI single through the right side by redshirt-junior DH Rob Kral (Randolph, N.J.) brought in Holler for the three-run advantage.
The Hilltoppers closed the scoring with a single run in the sixth, as Huck scored on an inning-ending double play.
Eight Cougar batters accounted for the team's nine hits, with Leeds grabbing a pair of hits on the evening, along with two RBIs.
The Cougars return to action in the CofC Classic tomorrow afternoon against Auburn. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m. Sunday's 11:00 a.m. contest between Western Kentucky and Auburn has been rescheduled to Saturday night at 8:00 p.m. due to the impending storm approaching the Charleston area.
Samford 3, Toledo 0
Toledo 8, Samford 3
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.- The Samford baseball team split a doubleheader with Toledo Friday afternoon at Joe Lee Griffin Field. Samford won the first game, 3-0, before falling in game two by a score of 8-3 in seven innings.
In game one, junior pitcher Kyle Putkonen (2-1) pitched a complete-game, five-hit shutout to earn the win. Putkonen struck out six batters while allowing no walks. The performance marked Samford's first complete game by a pitcher since May 1, 2009, when Michael Jarry earned a 5-4 win at The Citadel.
For Samford at the plate, Michael Johnson went 2-for-3 with a home run and an RBI. Brad Moss drove in two runs in a 1-for-3 performance.
Toledo's Mike Hamann allowed three runs on six hits over 7.0 innings of work to take the loss. Joe Corfman went 2-for-3 to lead the Rockets at the plate.
Samford jumped on top with a run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Johnson led the inning off with a home run to right field to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead.
The Bulldogs added two more runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to push their lead to 3-0. Moss singled through the left side of the infield to drive in Matt Frederick and Brandon Miller to give Samford a three-run lead.
In the second game, Joshua VenFleteren (1-1) pitched 2.2 innings, giving up seven runs, just two earned, on six hits and striking out two batters, to take the loss for the Bulldogs. Josh Martin, Grant Sides and Gil Walker also saw time on the mound for Samford.
Phillip Ervin went 3-for-3 at the plate for Samford. Brandon Miller went 2-for-2 with two RBI.
Kyle Shaw got the win for Toledo, pitching 2.0 innings and surrendering three runs on six hits. Jason Edwards and James Miglin each homered to lead the Rockets to the win.
Samford jumped on top first in game two with three runs in the first inning. Miller drove in two runs and Tommy Corbin drove in another to give the Bulldogs a three-run lead.
Toledo plated seven runs, only two earned, in the top of the third inning to give the Rockets a 7-3 lead. Edwards and Miglin each had two-run homers in the inning. Dan Sherwood also drove in two runs in the inning for the Rockets.
Toledo added another run in the sixth inning to make the final score 8-3. Wes White singled and later scored on a Samford error for the Rockets' eighth run of the game.
With the split, Samford moves to 7-5 on the season. Toledo is now 3-5 on the young season.
Saturday's game has been cancelled due to expected inclement weather. The teams will conclude the series Sunday at 1 p.m. at Joe Lee Griffin Field. The game can be viewed online via the Bulldog Big Screen at www.samfordsports.com.
Pittsburgh 11, Wofford 5
SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The Wofford baseball team was defeated 11-5 by Pittsburgh on Friday afternoon at Russell C. King Field. The Terriers held a 6-5 lead after six innings, but the Panthers scored six runs in the top of the seventh and added one run in the eighth for the victory.
Wofford is now 6-4 on the season, while Pittsburgh is 3-1. The Terriers were led by Konstantine Diamaduros with three hits and James Foster with two runs scored. The Panthers were led by John Schultz with three hits and two RBIs and Kevan Smith with two hits and three RBIs.
The Terriers got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first as four hits led to three runs. James Foster led off with a single, Mac Doyle was hit by a pitch and Konstantine Diamaduros singled to load the bases with one out. A wild pitch advanced the runners and scored one run. A ground out by Josh McKinney added a run and a single by David Roney drove in the third run. Wofford left three runners on base at the end of the first with a 3-0 lead.
In the third inning, Travis Whitmore tripled and scored on a ground out for the Panthers. Wofford added a run in the bottom of the third Landon Bennett singled and eventually was driven in on a sacrifice bunt by Alex Lee for a 4-1 score.
Pittsburgh tied the game in the top of the fifth with three runs, two of which were unearned. Travis Whitmore had a sacrifice fly to score one run, while John Schultz hit an RBI double and Kevan Smith had an RBI single. The Terriers regained the advantage in the bottom of the sixth when James Foster walked, moved to second on a passed ball and moved to third on a single by Taylor Rozier. A single by Mac Doyle scored Foster for a 5-4 lead.
The Panthers took the lead in the top of the seventh with six runs scored on four hits. With the bases loaded, two singles and two walks scored four of the runs. A single by Ronald Sucre drove in two more runs as Pittsburgh built a 10-5 lead. In the top of the eighth, the Panthers added one more run after John Schultz hit a triple and was driven in by a ground out. Wofford was only able to put one runner on base in the final three innings of the 11-5 loss.
Wofford starter Tom Dolinak (1-1) threw six innings with seven runs allowed on eight hits plus seven strikeouts. Anthony Rowland went two-thirds of an inning and gave up three runs on two hits with one strikeout. Jesse Morris threw the final 2.1 innings with one hit and one run allowed with a strikeout.
For the Panthers, starter Corey Baker went 5.1 innings with ten hits and five runs allowed along with four strikeouts. Alex Caravella (1-0) threw 3.2 innings without allowing a hit or run with six strikeouts.
In a schedule change due to impending weather, Wofford and Pittsburgh will attempt to play a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at noon at Russell C. King Field. Rain is expected late Saturday and all day on Sunday. Wofford will travel to second-ranked Vanderbilt on Wednesday, March 8.
Wright State 9, Elon 4
ELON, N.C. -- Wright State rallied for seven runs on five hits in the top of the ninth inning to knock off the Elon Phoenix in game two of the 2011 Elon Invitational from Latham Park on Friday night.
The Raiders improved to 4-5 on the year after winning twice on Friday. Wright State defeated West Virginia 6-5 in the first game of the day. The Phoenix fell to 5-4 in 2011.
Wright State took advantage of multiple Elon errors in the third inning, scoring two unearned runs on just one hit.
Still down 2-0 in the bottom of the seventh, the Phoenix rallied. Grant McCoury was hit by a pitch to start the inning before Neal Pritchard lined a single to left to put two aboard. A sac bunt moved the runners to second and third before Scott Carcaise was hit by a pitch to load the bags with two outs. Sebastian Gomez followed and tied the game at two with a single that went through the right side of the infield.
Elon put together a two-out rally in the bottom of the eighth, scoring two more times to take a 4-2 lead. Alex Swim got the rally going by being hit by a pitch. McCoury singled to left before Pritchard's third hit of the day, a double to right-center, gave the Phoenix the lead.
The Raiders started the ninth with a single off the bat of Dan Marsh. Zach Tanner followed with a walk before a sacrifice bunt put both runners in scoring position. After another walk loaded the bases, Ryan Ashe grounded a ball through the left side of the infield to score Marsh to make it a 4-3 game. With the bases still full, Tristan Moore was hit by a 3-2 pitch to force home Tanner to tie the score at four. A wild pitch brought home another run as the Raiders moved back in front. Wright State upped its lead to 6-4 when Corey Davis lined a single to right to plate Ashe and leave runners on the corners with only one away. With the bases full after another walk, Justin Kopale ripped a double to left-center to clear the bags to cap the scoring and make it a 9-4 contest.
Thomas Girdwood (1-1) took the loss after being charged with five runs on two hits in just a third of an inning. Starter Kyle Webb was solid again, tossing 6.1 innings and giving up two unearned runs on five hits while striking out four.
Wright State's Michael Schum (2-1) picked up his second victory of the day after allowing two runs on four hits in 2.2 innings out of the bullpen. Schum came on after Casey Henn gave up two runs on three hits in 6.1 innings.
Offensively, Elon's seven-hit attack was led by Pritchard who finished the day 3-for-4 with a run scored and two RBI. Gomez also drove in two runs with his 1-for-4 performance. McCoury scored twice for the Phoenix and was 1-for-2 at the dish.
Marsh scored two of Wright State's nine runs and tallied a three-hit game while Kopale was 2-for-5 with three RBI for the Raiders.
The Elon Invitational will continue with three games on Saturday. At 9:30 a.m., West Virginia will take on Temple. The Phoenix will then battle West Virginia at 1:30 p.m. and play again at 5:30 p.m. against Wright State.