CULLOWHEE, N.C. -- Behind a solid start from
Tom Porter and early offense, the 28th-ranked Elon Phoenix completed a three-game Southern Conference sweep of the Western Carolina Catamounts with a 7-2 decision on Sunday afternoon. With the win, Elon concludes its 2009 SoCon slate with a 23-4 mark and won its final 17 league games of the year. The Phoenix is now 36-14 overall. Western fell to 30-20, 16-10.
After
Pat Irvine tripled to lead off the Elon second,
Bennett Davis was hit by a pitch and
Mike Melillo walked to load the bases.
Dallas Tarleton gave the Phoenix a 1-0 lead with a sacrifice fly down the right field line that scored Irvine. Davis was also able to advance on the play.
Ryan Adams' one-out single to right-center scored Davis and sent Melillo to third.
Neal Pritchard followed with a RBI single through the left side, scoring Melillo with the third Elon run.
With one out in the top of the third, Irvine lined his 17th homer of the year over the right field wall. The solo shot gave Elon a 4-0 lead. After Melillo was hit by a pitch he went to third on Tarleton's single to right-center. A double steal allowed Melillo to score the fifth run.
Cory Harrilchak belted a two-out solo shot to right in the top of the fourth, extending Elon's lead to 6-0. The homer was the 14th of the year for Harrilchak and moved his streak of successfully reaching base to 83 straight games.
Stephen Notaro's 13th home run of the year began the Catamount fifth to put Western on the board.
Nick Liles and Ross Heffley began the Western sixth with back-to-back singles. J.C. Lyons' one-out single up the middle scored Liles as the Catamounts closed its deficit to 6-2. Following a sacrifice bunt, Notaro walked to load the bases. Mitchell Hatley ripped a 3-2 pitch to center, but the shot was right at Harrilchak and the inning ended.
With two outs in the ninth, Harrilchak doubled to right-center. After
Chase Austin was intentionally walked,
Justin Hilt lined a single to left, scoring Harrilchak.
Porter (2-3) 5.2 innings, allowing six hits and both Catamount runs. He struck out four.
Ken Ferrer threw the final three frames for his second save.
Mike Tavernier (5-5) took the loss after giving up six runs on seven hits in just four innings.
At the plate,
Harry Austin, Harrilchak and Irvine all had two-hit days. Harrilchak, Irvine and Melillo all scored twice.
Six different WCU players recorded one hit, including Notaro's homer.
Elon will play its final regular season game of the year at home on Tuesday, hosting the High Point Panthers at 1 p.m. from Latham Park.
-- ELON --