ELON, N.C. – East Carolina scored two runs in the top of the first inning and never looked back as the Pirates handed the Elon Phoenix a 20-4 setback in the series finale on Sunday, March 15 at Latham Park.
With the loss, Elon (8-9) was swept in a non-league series at Latham Park for the first time since April of 1999, its final of two transition years to NCAA Division I play.
ECU (13-6) scored the first two runs of the game on a Luke Lowery sacrifice fly and a Travis Watkins infield single.
The Phoenix threatened in both the first and second before grounding in to inning-ending double plays in both frames.
Nick Zammarelli eliminated the chance of a Pirate shutout in the last of the seventh when he drilled a 3-2 pitch over the wall in left for a two-run homer, his fourth long ball of the season. Elon would add two more in the eighth. The first came on a wild pitch before a Chris King ground out delivered the final Phoenix run of the game.
Jake Stalzer (1-3) took the loss for Elon. He gave up seven runs on 10 hits in 3.1 innings of work.
David Lucroy (2-0) was the winning pitcher. He tossed six scoreless innings, allowing three hits.
Elon will continue its eight-game homestand with a pair of midweek bouts with #23 Maryland. Game times on both Tuesday and Wednesday are set for 4 p.m.