Box Score
GREENVILLE, N.C. -- For the second time this year Elon and East Carolina went deep into the game scoreless, and for the second time, ECU was able to defeat the Phoenix. On Tuesday evening the Pirates used a four-run sixth to claim a 4-1 victory.
The loss dropped Elon to 28-24 while ECU improved to 32-16-1 on the year.
With neither team able to muster much offense, the game went to the bottom of the sixth scoreless. Drew Reynolds led off the frame with a single up the middle and went to second on a one-out single from John Wooten. That forced the Phoenix to draw the infield in and Zach Wright grounded the ball to short, forcing the runners to hold as he was set down for the second out. After Jack Reinheimer was intentionally walked to load the bases Elon went to the pen. Unfortunately, the Phoenix reliever was unable to find the zone and proceeded to walk in three runs before another pitching change. A wild pitch with the bags full brought home the fourth and final Pirate tally.
Elon tried its hand at a ninth-inning rally. With one out,
Joey Tomko bounced to short, but his path to first base was impeded by the ECU pitcher and he was awarded first on obstruction. With two down
Sam Paone collected the first hit of his career to put two aboard for
Quinn Bower. Bower delivered the Elon run with a single to right. That is where the rally ended though as Tanner Merritt struck out the next hitter to end the contest.
Andrew MacDonald (4-3) took the loss, but had a solid start. He threw a career-long 5.2 innings and allowed three runs on five hits.
Andy Smithmyer (4-2) was the winning pitcher, going 6.2 scoreless innings and scattering four hits. Merritt's 2.1-inning stint earned him his eighth save.
Ryan Kinsella went 1-for-4 to extend his career-long hit streak to 14 games. Two of Elon's six hits were notched by Bower.
Elon will break for exams before concluding its 2012 regular season with a three-game Southern Conference set with The Citadel. That series begins on Wednesday, May 16 at 6:30 p.m.
-- ELON --
