Elon University senior starting pitcher Kyle Webb was a perfect 6-0 in Southern Conference play this season, making him a clear choice to start Wednesday’s SoCon tournament opener against host Furman University in Greenville, S.C.
The Phoenix fell behind on runs in each of the first three innings and couldn’t recover, dropping the opener of the tournament 10-1.
After a delay with one out in the top of the first inning due to lightning in the area, the game resumed after Will Muzika singled and scored on a triple to center from Greg Harrison.
Chris Ohmstede put Furman up 2-0 with a one-out home run to left field in the top of the second. That was followed in the third inning with an RBI-single from Taylor Johnson.
Trailing 3-0 going to the seventh inning, freshman Chris Schaedel scored Antonio Alvarez on a single to center field to pull within two. It was as close as Elon would get, though, as Webb and the Phoenix bullpen imploded in the seventh when Furman scored five runs.
The big blow came off the bat of Alex Abrams. He sent a bases-clearing double through the right side to score three and give Furman an 8-1 lead.
Furman put the final touches on the game with a two-run home run from Jordan Simpson in the eighth inning.
Webb took his third loss of the season, but just his first in SoCon play after giving up seven runs – four earned – on seven hits. He fanned six in the game.
Nate Smith picked up his seventh win of the season with 6 2/3 solid innings of one-run ball. He struck out eight Phoenix batters.
Schaedel and Ryan Kinsella were the only Elon batters with multiple hits in the game, though the Phoenix scattered 10 hits throughout.
Furman finished with 12 hits and got the timely hit when needed en route to the lopsided final. They take on the winner of College of Charleston against Georgia Southern University. First pitch of that game was scheduled to be at 8:30 p.m. Heavy rain following the Elon/Furman game postponed the contest until tomorrow. The loser will take on the Phoenix with the loser’s season coming to an end.