Box Score

WILMINGTON, N.C. -- The Elon Phoenix claimed an early lead, but could not solve UNC Wilmington's Kelly Secrest late and found itself on the wrong side of a 7-5 score in non-league baseball action on Wednesday night.

Elon (23-20) took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning.  After a one-out walk and an error put runners on the corners, Ryan Kinsella laced a two-out single to right to score both runners.

The Phoenix lead was short-lived, however, as the Seahawks (25-16) rallied for four runs in the bottom half.  With runners on second and third with one out, Hunter Ridge doubled down the right field line to tie the game.  An Elon error extended the inning and allowed Ridge to score the go-ahead run before an errant pick-off throw let the runner head to third.  A Drew Farber ground out then made it 4-2.

UNCW, which has now won five straight games, scored single runs in the second and third before Elon closed its deficit to 6-5 with a three-run fourth.  An error and walk put two aboard for the Phoenix before Blaine Bower doubled home won with a shot to right-center.  A walk loaded the bases for Niko Fraser who returned to the lineup after missing 11 games with an injury.  Fraser's slow roller to short scored the second run of the inning and left the bags full when the Seahawks failed to put out the runner at second.  Sebastian Gomez picked up a RBI with a ground out to complete the scoring.

The Seahawks tacked on an insurance run in the seventh to make it a 7-5 game.

Secrest (2-1) came on in the fifth and retired all 16 hitters he faced, including 12 via the strike out.

David Whitehead (2-3) took the loss after he allowed four runs (two earned) on three hits in just one inning.

Elon will come back home to Latham Park for a three-game Southern Conference series against Triad rival UNCG.