Pirates Fall to Elon in 10 innings
GREENVILLE, N.C. – Kyle Jackson’s bases loaded single scored Ryne Ogren in the 10th inning lifting Elon to an 8-7 win over No. 16 East Carolina Wednesday afternoon at Lewis Field inside Clark-LeClair Stadium. With the win, the Phoenix improve to 4-5 while the Pirates fall to 6-2 on the young season.
Chris Hall (1-1) picked up the win in relief working a scores 1.2 innings surrendering a hit, issuing one walk and striking out two. Starter Jordan Barrett was touched for six runs (all earned) on eight hits with three walks and four strikeouts in 5.1 innings. Robbie Welhaf allowed a run (unearned) on one hit in one-third of an inning. Relievers Ryan Conroy (2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 4 Ks), Kellan Elsbury (0.1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 K) and Danny Crowe (0.1 IP) bridged the gap to Hall.
Joe Ingle (1-1) suffered his first loss of the season allowing one run (earned) on one hit with three walks and three strikeouts in a career-high 3.0 innings of relief. Starter Denny Brady gave up a pair of runs (both earned) on three hits with three punch outs and a walk in 2.2 innings. Davis Kirkpatrick allowed a pair of runs (both unearned) in 2.1 innings, while Nick Durazo gave up three runs (all earned) in two-thirds of an innings. Sam Lanier tossed 1.1 scoreless frames with a career-best two strikeouts.
ECU out-hit Elon 12 to 11 on the day getting three hits each from Jeff Nelson and Travis Watkins. Nelson scored a career-best three runs, while Luke Bolka touched home twice. Eric Tyler and Watkins each had two RBI, while Parker Lamm and Charlie Yorgen drove in one each.
Danny Lynch led the Phoenix with three hits and Liam O’Regan added a pair. Lynch and Tyler McVicar drove in three runs apiece, while Jackson and Nick Zammarelli added one each.
How It Happened:With the game knotted at seven-all in the 10th, Elon drew consecutive walks off Ingle to start the frame. With one out, Zammarelli walked to load the bases for Jackson, who singled through the right side easily scoring Ogren for the game-winning run.
The Pirates had their chance to win the game in regulation. Garrett Brooks doubled to start the bottom of the ninth. After Turner Brown popped up on a bunt attempt for the first out, Kirk Morgan reached on an infield single putting runners on the corners. Nelson drew a walk to load the bases for Lamm, who flew out to shallow right field. On the same play, O’Regan fired home to Austin Leeney who tagged Brooks out at the plate, sending the game in to extra innings.
Elon jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the third behind RBI base hits by McVicar and Lynch. ECU would respond with a pair of its own in the bottom half of the frame behind infield singles from Yorgen and Watkins making it a two-all contest.
Both teams scored a pair of runs in the fifth and three in the sixth pushing the tally to seven-all. Lynch had a two-RBI double in the fifth that plated Zammarelli and Jackson, while Tyler’s two-RBI single plated Nelson and Watkins.
In the sixth, Zammarelli drove in a run with a single up the middle and McVicar had a two-RBI base hit through the left side giving Elon a 7-4 advantage. But the Pirates once again responded when Bolka scored on a balk, Nelson crossed home on Lamm’s sac fly and Yorgen touched home on Watkins’ double to left center knotting the game at seven-all.
Game Notes:ECU saw its seven-game home win streak and 12-game win streak against Elon snapped on the night … Jeff Nelson tied a career-high with three hits, while setting a new career-high with three runs scored … Parker Lamm (9 games), Eric Tyler (7) and Travis Watkins (7) each extended their current hit streaks … ECU had four two-out RBI pushing its season total to 22.
Up Next:ECU will play host to the 13th Annual Keith LeClair Classic this weekend (Mar. 4-6) when it welcomes in Southeastern Louisiana, Tennessee and Maryland. Pirate fans can follow all the action this weekend by going to the LeClair Classic Central page (http://www.ecupirates.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/keith-leclair-classic-16.html).
