Three-Run Ninth Pushes Elon Baseball Past Charleston

MT. PLEASANT, S.C. – After leading for much of the game, the Elon University baseball team found itself trailing by a run entering the ninth inning before rallying for three runs in its final at bat to claim a 6-4 victory over the College of Charleston Cougars on Sunday afternoon.

Box Score | Play-by-Play

Elon (20-24, 10-8 CAA) got three hits from Cam Devanney, while Ryne Ogren went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Kyle Jackson and Shawn Blake both drove in a pair of runs for the Phoenix.

Charleston (22-22, 12-6) saw both Dupree Hart and Tommy Richter go 3-for-5.

Robbie Welhaf (4-4) picked up the win following a relief effort that spanned 2.0 innings. He allowed one run on two hits and struck out one. Phoenix starter Jordan Barrett gave up two runs (one earned) on five hits in 5.0 innings. Barrett recorded six strikeouts.

The loss went to Cougar reliever Justin Baker (1-1). Baker was charged with three runs on four hits in 1.2 innings of work.

How It Happened: Elon led 3-2 heading to the last of the eighth before the Cougars began their rally with back-to-back walks to start the inning. After a sacrifice bunt and strike out, Ari Sechopoulos singled up the middle to drive home both runners and give Charleston its first lead of the day.

The Phoenix did not quit, though, as Devanney led off the ninth with his third single of the day. With one out, Ogren singled to move pinch runner Tyler Stanley to third before Jackson tied it with his second sac fly. Elon loaded the bases with a hit batter and fielder’s choice that failed to record an out before Blake, a defensive replacement in the eighth, lined a 1-2 pitch to center to drive home both Ogren and Ty Adcock to give the Phoenix the lead at 6-4.

For the first time in the series, Elon was able to score the first run of the game. Joe Satterfield got things started with a double to left-center and, after moving to third on a balk, scored on Jackson’s one-out sacrifice fly to left.

Charleston responded in the last of the first, tying the game on a sacrifice fly after an error extended the inning.

The Phoenix moved back on top by a 2-1 score in the third when Ogren’s sac fly to center plated Devanney who had reached on a one-out single.

Elon tacked on another in the fourth. Adcock led off with a double ahead of a Hayden Platt single before Will Nance put down a sacrifice bunt to put two in scoring position. Kory Shumate’s ground ball to second allowed Adcock to cross the plate to give the maroon and gold a 3-1 advantage.

After the Phoenix left a pair in scoring position in the top of the fifth, the Cougars chipped in to the Elon lead. Xavier Freeman led off with a walk and stole second before scoring on a Hart single up the middle to make it 3-2. Richter followed with a single to left before both runners advanced on a wild pitch. Barrett was able to escape further damage by striking out Logan McRae on the ninth pitch of his at bat.

Notes: Elon is now 15-1 when leading after seven innings and earned just its second win of the year when trailing after eight innings… The Phoenix is 2-2 in two-run games… Devanney matched his personal best with three hits.

On Deck: Elon returns to Latham Park to wrap up a season home-and-home series with the UNCG Spartans on Tuesday, May 2. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.