By Staff
From ECU Sports Information
ELON COLLEGE -- East Carolina and Elon battled to a 5-5 tie in 12 innings before running out of daylight Wednesday afternoon at Latham Park.
ECU's record now stands at 8-4-1, while Elon is 7-6-1.
Elon jumped out to an early 1-0 when Evan Tartaglia led off with a triple over the head of ECU right fielder Darryl Lawhorn. Two batters later, Brian Ingram brought him home with an RBI single.
The Phoenix made it 4-0 by plating three runs on three hits in the fifth. Paul Bennett and Tartaglia led off with back-to-back singles. Chris Price then tapped a ball to ECU starting pitcher Will Brinson, whose throw to third base slipped into left field, allowing Bennett to score. Tartaglia later scored on a sacrifice fly by Ingram and Mike Fratoe singled in Price.
The Pirates finally got on the board with three runs in the sixth. Jamie Paige led off with a single and Ryan Jones reached on a fielder's choice. Darryl Lawhorn then punched an RBI single to left field. Jason Tourangeau brought home another run with a sacrifice fly, and Mark Minicozzi followed with an RBI hit to cut it to 4-3.
ECU tied the game, 4-4, in the top of the eighth inning when Ryan Norwood doubled and, with two outs, Mark Minicozzi drove in pinch runner Ben Sanderson with a double to left field.
Despite having its first three batters of the inning strike out, Elon scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the eighth. ECU reliever Matt Bishop got Mike Hromadka, Tejeda, and Miller swinging, but the third strike to Miller got past catcher Jake Smith for a wild pitch which put Miller on first. Robbie Smith followed with a walk and Bennett singled to break the tie.
ECU tied it right back up at 5-5 in the top of the ninth when Luke Cherry led off with a walk, advanced on Mike DeJesus' sacrifice bunt, and scored on a single by Jamie Paige.
Neither team scored in the extra innings and the game was called by the umpires as darkness fell at Latham Park, which does not have lights.
The Pirates have had to rally from a deficit in six of their eight victories this season. Four of those wins came after East Carolina had trailed by three or more runs.
ECU's Greg Bunn was spectacular in relief as he went the final 4.1 innings while striking out a career-high 10 batters.
ECU returns home for a two-game series against Appalachian State at Harrington Field. Both Saturday's and Sunday's games will start at 1 p.m.