Alex Swim(Northwest Guilford HS) has career-game, but Elon eases out of NCAA playoffs

from www.elonphoenix.com

ATLANTA, Ga. — Alex Swim(Northwest Guilford High School) hit his first career grand slam and drove in a career-best six runs, but it was not enough as the Elon Phoenix saw its season come to an end with a 13-7 loss to the Mercer Bears in the Atlanta Regional of the 2010 NCAA Baseball Championships. The Phoenix finished the season with a 38-24 record and advanced to NCAA play for the third consecutive year. Mercer is now 38-23.

After Elon went 1-2-3 in the top of the first, Billy Burns led off the Mercer half of the inning with a ground ball to second that went for a single when Seth Canipe slipped on the outfield grass. With one down, Burns swiped second and moved to third on a ground out. The Bears took a 1-0 lead when Thomas Carroll floated a single over the head of Ben Scott at third that plated Burns. Michael Langley followed with a single to center that was misplayed, allowing both runners to take an extra base. Joe Winker’s single to right-center then brought home both Carroll and Langley to make it a 3-0 game after one inning.

The Phoenix quickly got one run back when Neal Pritchard started the second by drilling an 0-1 pitch over the left field wall for his 12th round-tripper of the year.

Harry Austin began the Elon third with a walk and went to second on a Mike Melillo single. Austin was able to tag and head to third on Ryan Adams’ deep fly out to left. The Phoenix was unable to take advantage of its scoring opportunity, however, as Pritchard grounded into a double play to end the threat.