Two bad innings signaled the downfall of the Elon University baseball team in two games of a three-game set in Statesboro, Ga. against the Georgia Southern University Eagles.
In all, the Eagles scored 28 runs in the series. Sixteen of them came in two innings of the series in games one and two.
In game one, Elon got on the board in both the first and second innings thanks to a solo home run in the second inning from sophomore designated hitter Chris King. The Phoenix would take a 2-2 game to the bottom of the second inning.
After giving up a two-run double in the bottom of the first inning to Tyler Avera, Elon starter Dylan Clark surrendered five straight hits and four more runs before he was lifted from the game in favor of Jacob Baker.
Baker didn’t fare any better, as he lasted just three innings in relief while giving up six runs, five earned on five hits.
Georgia Southern mustered 15 hits in the 15-4 onslaught, five of which were doubles.
Eagles’ starter Justin Hess fanned a season-high 10 Elon hitters. It’s the second straight start Hess struck out 10 batters. He moved his overall record to 4-4. Clark’s record fell to 5-4.
Game two saw the Eagles explode again in the fourth inning for 10 runs on the way to a 12-4 victory to take the series. On RBI singles from senior Niko Fraser and junior Antonio Alvarez, the Phoenix took a 3-0 to the bottom of the third inning. That’s when Avera again came up with two on and made the most of his opportunity with a two-RBI single.
Moving forward just one inning, Elon starter Spencer Medick allowed the first three batters to reach base via a walk and two singles. Following an infield fly, the only out of the inning Medick would record, first baseman T.D. Davis launched a 1-1 pitch over the left field fence for a grand slam to give the Eagles a 6-2 lead.
In all, Georgia Southern sent 15 hitters to the plate in the frame. Medick was relieved by John Antonelli, who didn’t fare much better as six more runs crossed the plate to give the Eagles a commanding 12-4 lead.
Through the rest of the game, Elon pitching only allowed three hits, but the damage had been done and Elon could not score again against sophomore reliever Sam Howard. He went 4 1/3 innings while striking out four to pick up his sixth win of the year. Medick dropped to 5-4 on the year with the loss.
Game three got a much needed pitching performance from Kyle Webb. Having taxed the bullpen with two short outings in the first two games, Webb went the distance for his second career complete game while striking out a career-high 11 batters.
Senior catcher Alex Swim knocked his first home run of the season to cap the scoring for the Phoneix in the 9-1 victory. He finished the game 3 for 5 with two RBI and three runs scored. He finished a double short of the cycle after tripling to start the fourth inning.
Webb improved to 5-2 on the year while Elon moved to an even .500 mark at 23-23. Entering the weekend, Elon was at the top of the Southern Conference. Now sitting at 15-9 in conference, the Phoenix sit third behind Western Carolina University and The Citadel.
The Eagles dropped to 12-12 in conference, 23-20 overall.
Elon returns to nonconference action Tuesday April 30 to start a home-and-home series with the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Wake Forest University Demon Deacons. First pitch in Winston-Salem is set for 6 p.m.
Elon will welcome the Demon Deacons to Latham Park Wednesday May 1 for a 6:30 p.m. first pitch before traveling to Boone to face Appalachian State in the final road games of the regular season.