Elon Baseball Drops Another Close One to UNCW

ELON, N.C. – A pitcher’s duel at Latham Park on Saturday night saw the Elon University baseball team drop a tough, 3-2 contest to the visiting UNCW Seahawks in game two of a three-game Colonial Athletic Association series.

Box Score | Play-by-Play

Elon (21-30, 11-12 CAA), which out-hit UNCW 6-4, got a pair of hits from both Kyle Jackson and Hayden Platt.

UNCW (26-24, 14-6 CAA) saw its grasp tighten on first place in the league standings.

Despite allowing just one earned run, Jordan Barrett (3-4) took the loss for the Phoenix. Barrett struck out 10 and allowed three runs on four hits in 6.0 innings. Robbie Welhaf threw a perfect 3.0 innings, striking out five to keep Elon within striking distance.

Zarion Sharpe (6-1) picked up the win after giving up two runs (one earned) on six hits in 6.2 innings of work. Austin Easter collected his third save by throwing 2.1 scoreless and hitless innings.

How It Happened: UNCW was the first to score as the Seahawks used a two-out solo home run from Nick Feight to grab a first-inning lead. Elon would tie it in the bottom half. The Phoenix loaded the bases with singles from Jackson and Platt and a Ty Adcock walk before a wild pitch allowed Jackson to race home.

The Seahawks struck again with two outs in the fifth. A hit batter and walk put two aboard when Feight hit a sharp ground ball to third. The throw to first sailed high and allowed two runs to score.

Elon again answered in the bottom half of the inning. Zach Evers drew a walk to start the frame before a throwing error on a Kory Shumate fielder’s choice left runners on the corners. Ryne Ogren followed with a sacrifice fly to right-center to make it a 3-2 game.

The maroon and gold had numerous chances to tie the game or take the lead, but stranded six runners over the final four innings.

Notes: Barrett notched his third game with at least 10 strikeouts this season… His 89 strikeouts on the year are just three shy of moving in to the program’s top-10 single season chart… Elon has now had seven league games decided by just one run and is 2-5 in those contests.

On Deck: Elon and UNCW will wrap up the three-game series with a 1:30 p.m. game on Sunday afternoon.