TOWSON, Md. – Towson University starter
Kevin Ross kept the Elon offense in check through eight innings, but a ninth inning home run helped the Phoenix to the 5-4 victory over Tigers Saturday afternoon at Schuerholz Park.
How it Happened
- The Tigers entered the bottom of the ninth inning trailing by a run. After the first two hitters were retired, Richard Miller drew a walk. He was then lifted for pinch runner Jay Sanford.
- Colin Gimblet followed with a single to left center just out of the reach of a diving left fielder. Going on contact, Sanford rounded third as the center fielder threw towards the plate. In a bang-bang play, Sanford was called out at the plate to end the ballgame.
- The Phoenix (17-19, 7-4 CAA) took the lead in the top of the ninth inning on Hayden Platt's pinch-hit three-run home run to center field.
- Lost in the outcome was the performance of Towson starter Kevin Ross. The senior allowed a run on three hits in the first inning, then did not allow a hit over the next eight innings.
- Ross finished the day going eight-plus innings, allowing three runs, two earned, on three hits. He struck out a career best nine while walking only one.
- After he gave up an unearned run in the third on a dropped fly ball, Ross rebounded to retire the next 10 hitters he faced.
- The first batter of the seventh reached on an error, but a caught stealing was followed by Ross retiring the next five hitters.
- Ross came out to start the ninth, but was removed after allowing the leadoff hitter to reach.
- The Tigers (14-18, 3-5 CAA) got on the scoreboard in the third inning as Richie Palacios ripped a one-out double to straight-away center field and scored on a Gimbet single to right field.
- Towson tied the game in the sixth inning after Gimblet doubled off the fence in left center and scored on Colin Dyer's single to center field.
- Andrew Cassard nearly gave the Tigers the lead with a line drive up the middle, but Joe Satterfield made an outstanding diving catch up the middle to end the inning.
- The Tigers gained their first lead of the day in the seventh as Palacios led off the inning with a triple off the 424 sign in center field. An intentional walk to Richard Miller, and a wild pitch, put runners on second and third with one out.
- The next hitter hit a line drive that was knocked down by the second baseman who came home with the throw. Palacios was caught in a rundown, but the catcher threw the ball into left field, allowing both Palacios and Miller to score.
- Gimblet and Palacios each collected three hits for the Tigers.
- David Marriggi (4-2) suffered the loss after allowing two runs on two hits in his one inning of work.
- Robbie Welhaf (3-4) got the victory after giving up two unearned runs on three hits over 3.2 innings.
Up Next
The two teams close out the three-game series Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.