Elon University junior starting pitcher David Whitehead started to show signs of his return to form on Tuesday, April 2 against High Point University. That is until he had to leave the game two outs short of qualifying for his second win of the season in Elon’s 16-7 trouncing of the Panthers.
“He’s just got a sore forearm,” Elon head coach Mike Kennedy said. “We think it’s just general tightness and nothing serious. But there’s no pain in there, just tightness. Anytime you have that, you just want to make sure it’s nothing more.”
Looking to extend a three game winning streak and avenge last week’s loss in High Point, Whitehead took the hill for his sixth start of the season for the Phoenix. The junior got help early from the offense in the second inning when juniors Antonio Alvarez and Sebastian Gomez sent back-to-back doubles into left and center field to give the Phoenix a 1-0 lead.
Not allowing a hit through the first three innings, Whitehead again got run support, this time in the form of 10 runs over the course of the third and fourth innings, as Elon hit for the cycle as a team to start the top of the third inning highlighted by junior Ryan Kinsella’s two-run home run just to the right of the batters eye in center field.
“Everybody was getting on base,” said sophomore Chris King. “They were throwing a lot of fastballs and we made them go from the stretch and got a lot more pitches to hit.”
The waiting games on the bench didn’t help Elon’s starting pitcher. After giving up three runs in the top of the fourth inning, Whitehead was set to go to the stretch after shortstop Willie Medina reached first base on an error by Kinsella. But Kennedy and trainer Jodi McConnell noticed the junior shaking his throwing arm vigorously. After examining his right forearm, the decision was made to remove him from the game two outs shy of qualifying for the win with Elon leading 11-3.
“It stinks to see him go down because he pitched real well,” King said. “He threw like the Whitehead we all thought we were going to see and to go down in the fifth inning, that stinks.”
Each time High Point (15-16) pulled within a few runs, Elon (18-11) pulled away again. After High Point pulled within two in the top of the fourth, Elon added six in the bottom half of the frame for an eight run lead. When the Panthers pulled it back to a five-run deficit, Elon added the three back and then some.
“It goes back to making sure you’re locked in and making sure you’re putting in quality at bats,” Kennedy said. “We struggled against East Carolina and High Point the week before. But we talked about focusing on good at bats. When things go well, you can get away from that or try to do too much. They think they can hit with anybody, and they really can, but only when they’re doing the right things like hitting it backside and such. If they don’t, we’re not that good.”
King led off the seventh inning with the home run after tripling earlier in the game. All that was left was the single to collect the cycle. Elon sent eight batters to the plate to ensure the sophomore designated hitter would have a chance in the bottom of the eighth inning to get the base knock needed. He ended up striking out swinging. Following the game, he admitted the thought of the cycle was in his head, which he said “probably” contributed to the strikeout.
“I was going to pinch hit for him in the last at bat,” Kennedy said. “I don’t think about stuff like that, but our guys were like, ‘No man, single and he’s got the cycle,’ so we left him in there and he strikes out. But he had an unbelievable day. We did a lot of great things offensively.”
In relief of Whitehead and an ineffective John Antonelli, freshman Tyler Manez threw 4.2 innings while allowing just three hits and two runs. He struck out four to pick up his first career collegiate win.
“It feels pretty good but it’s just another win,” the humble Manez said after the game as Kennedy handed him the lineup card as a souvenir.
The freshman reliever received high praise from both coach and team alike after the game.
“He was throwing strikes and every out he got was basically on the ground,” King said. “He was real good tonight.”
"We’re trying to find that next starter. The guy that can give you four or five innings so that as good for him to be able to stretch it out and give us a little over four," Kennedy said. "Boy he was good, though. He got better late, too. His fastball was jumping out of his hand."
Senior Ryan Retz was knocked around this time around after dominating the Phoenix a week ago on March 26. Taking his second loss of the season, Retz was touched up for seven runs on nine hits in just three innings.
Elon turns around quickly, as they will make the hour-long bus trip down Interstate 40 to Raleigh to take on the No. 25 North Carolina State University Wolfpack. When N.C. State came to Latham Park on March 5, Elon routed the then No. 8 Wolfpack 24-12.
“We’re mature enough to know that we aren’t going to score 24 again,” Kennedy said. “They know that. We have to play better defense. We have a great opportunity in front of us.
Kennedy will send junior Jacob Baker to the mound for his fourth start of the year. In relief against the Wolfpack on March 5, he was knocked around in just 0.1 innings for three runs on three walks and one hit. First pitch in Raleigh is set for 6 p.m.