GREENSBORO, N.C. – After falling behind 6-0, the Elon baseball team scored seven runs in the top of the ninth inning to pull out an 11-9 victory over the UNCG Spartans at UNCG Baseball Stadium on Tuesday night. The win gave the Phoenix a season sweep of UNCG.
Elon’s victory upped the Phoenix’s record to 19-19, while UNCG dropped to 17-19 on the year.
For Elon, James Venuto was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and four RBI. Andy Moore added a three-hit game and Danny Lynch and Kory Shumate both had two-hit nights.
Ryne Sigmon went 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBI to lead the Spartans.
Freshman Sean Byrnes (1-0) picked up the first win of his career after allowing one run on one hit in 2.2 innings out of the Elon bullpen.
The loss went to Bryant Stafford (3-2) who was roughed up for six runs on five hits in 1.1 inning.
Up next: Elon will remain on the road for a 6 p.m. game at Campbell on Wednesday, April 22. The game will be broadcast live on WSML 104.5 FM / 1200 AM.
How it happened: Trailing 8-4 entering the ninth inning, Elon got three straight singles from Moore, Lynch and Venuto to make it 8-5. Two batters later, Casey Jones drove in a run with a single before pinch-runner John Antonelli scored on a fielder’s choice to make it an 8-7 game. Joey Tomko then knotted the score at eight with a single through the right side and Nick Zammarelli put the maroon and gold with a two-RBI double. He would then score on Moore’s second hit of the inning to make it 11-8.
Inside the box score: Elon went 8-for-22 with runners in scoring position, while UNCG was 10-for-17 in the same situation … Elon drew 10 walks on the night … Venuto’s four RBI were a career best.
Notes: Venuto’s home run in the sixth inning was his sixth of the year and tied him with Chris Price (2003) for the most homers in a season by an Elon freshman at the Division I level … Elon has scored 18 runs in its last three ninth-inning at bats … The Phoenix won for the first time this year (1-17) when trailing after eight innings … Elon has won five games in its final at bat this year.