Box Score

ELON, N.C. -- Returning home after a seven-game road swing, the Elon Phoenix came up just short as it dropped a 3-2 decision in 10 innings to the 24th-rated East Carolina Pirates on Tuesday night.  It was the seventh extra inning game and 11th-one run game of the season for Elon.

The game remained scoreless into the ninth inning before East Carolina (23-8-1) put two aboard with two outs.  The Pirates claimed a 2-0 lead when Jack Reinheimer doubled to left-center.

Elon (19-15) began its half of the ninth with an infield single by Alex Swim.  After a ground out sent Swim to second, Joey Tomko hit a shallow fly ball to center with two outs.  The ECU outfielder dropped the ball and Swim scored to make it a 2-1 game.  After a Garrett Koster single put runners on the corners, the Phoenix pulled off a double steal as pinch-runner Blaine Bower raced in to even the score.  The Phoenix looked like it might win the game when Casey Jones bounced a ball up the middle, but second baseman Tim Younger made a sliding stop and was able to throw Koster out at the plate to end the bottom of the ninth.

Younger then doubled to lead off the top of the 10th and moved to third on a sac bunt.  After a walk and wild pitch put runners on second and third, John Wooten lifted a fly ball to center that allowed Younger to tag and score the winning run.

ECU threatened early, but saw scoring opportunities erased in the first, third, fourth and sixth by Elon double plays.  The four double plays by the Phoenix marked the most in a game for the program since it turned four against UNCG in 2009.

Elon starter David Whitehead did not allow a run on six hits over six innings before giving way to Jordan Darnell.  Darnell (0-1) took the loss after allowing all three runs on three hits in 3.1 innings.

Drew Reynolds (3-0) was the winner with two innings of relief work.  He was charged with both Elon runs in the ninth and gave up three hits.  Pirate starter Jeff Hoffman went eight scoreless innings and fanned 10.

The maroon and gold will be right back in action on Wednesday night as the Phoenix travels to Raleigh to take on the 17th-ranked Wolfpack of NC State.