Ninth-Inning Rally by #14 Maryland Downs Elon Baseball

ELON, N.C. – A four-run ninth inning broke a 3-3 tie and lifted the 14th-ranked Maryland Terrapins to a 7-3 victory over the Elon Phoenix from Latham Park on Wednesday, March 18.

With the game even at three going to the ninth, Maryland (14-4) got its rally started with a walk to Kengo Kawahara. Brandon Lowe followed by lining a 2-1 pitch into the gap in left-center that went to the wall for a double that put the Terps ahead 4-3. With two down and the bases loaded, Nick Cieri provided a cushion for Maryland by sending a 3-2 offering to nearly the same place as Lowe for a three-run double.

Elon (8-11) went down in order in the ninth as a pair of top relievers retired the Phoenix.

The loss went to Chris Hall (0-2) who gave up three runs on one hit without recording an out.

Making just the second start of his career, righty Mike Krill kept the Phoenix in the game. He went five innings and allowed two runs on five hits. With the game tied at two, Krill escaped a bases-loaded jam with no outs in the top of the fourth by getting Justin Morris to hit into an infield fly, striking out Jamal Wade and retiring Lowe on a fly ball.

Tayler Stiles (1-2) earned the win for the Terps as he threw a perfect inning out of the bullpen.

Maryland took an early 2-0 lead with single runs in both the first and second innings only to see the Phoenix tie it at two in the bottom of the second. Elon’s second began with a Chris King single up the middle. With two outs and King on second, Austin Leeney singled through the left side of the infield and took second on a throw to the plate that was late, scoring King. Leeney then came home on an Andy Moore double.

Elon took a 3-2 lead in the fourth without getting a hit. King walked, went to second on a ground out and third on wild pitch before scoring on a Wil Leathers ground out.

It remained a 3-2 contest until the seventh. Maryland got a leadoff triple by Lowe who then scored when Kevin Martir fisted a ball between two Elon infielders for a single with one out.

Elon will conclude an eight-game homestand this weekend by beginning Colonial Athletic Association play against James Madison. The Phoenix and Dukes will start the series on Friday at 6 p.m. The entire series will be broadcast live on WSML 104.5 FM and 1200 AM, Elon baseball’s new radio home. There will also be a free video feed for all three games available through Phoenix All-Access.