Box Score

ELON, N.C. -- Garrett Koster's three-run homer in the bottom of the fourth inning lifted the Elon Phoenix to a key 4-2 victory over the visiting Samford Bulldogs in the rubber match of a three-game Southern Conference series on Sunday.  By virtue of winning two of the three games over the weekend, Elon (17-9, 8-1 SoCon) continued to hold on to its SoCon lead.

Elon took an early lead thanks to a Samford miscue.  With runners on the corners with two down in the second, Eric Serra sent a routine ground ball to second, but the throw to first pulled the first baseman off the bag allowing Ryan Kinsella, who led the inning off with a single, to score.

Samford (16-10, 6-3) evened the score when Brandon Miller led off the fourth inning with a towering fly ball over the left field fence for his sixth homer of the year.

Sebastian Gomez drew a one-out walk in the bottom of the fourth, moved to second on a wild pitch and to third when Scott Carcaise reached on a throwing error.  Koster followed and cleared the bases by drilling a 2-1 pitch to straight-away left for his first home run of the year that give the Phoenix a 4-1 advantage.

Gary Cramer picked up his first homer of the year to make it a 4-2 game when he sent the first pitch of the ninth inning over the fence in right before Mitch Conner retired the next three hitters to end the game.

Jared Kernodle gave Elon a much-needed strong performance on the mound as the senior allowed just one run on six hits over seven innings to improve to 4-1 on the year.  Kernodle struck out four and walked two.  John Brebbia struck out two in a scoreless eighth while Conner picked up his fifth save of the year after tossing the ninth.

Samford starter Charles Basford (2-2) took the loss after being charged with four runs (two earned) on seven hits in six innings.

Koster finished the day 2-for-4 with a run and three RBI while both Alex Swim and Kinsella tallied two-hit outings for the Phoenix.

Stephen Ballard and Phillip Ervin accounted for four of Samford's nine hits, both going 2-for-4.

Elon will travel to East Carolina looking to avenge an earlier 4-3, 10-inning loss to the Pirates, on Wednesday.  First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.