May 10, 2009

Box Score

Cullowhee, N.C. - Elon completed its first-ever road series sweep of Western Carolina on Sunday afternoon, limiting the Catamounts to a pair of runs on six hits in a 7-2 victory in Southern Conference action at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium. Pat Irvine tripled, homered and walked twice as a part of a 2-for-2 performance, scoring two runs for the Phoenix in the victory.

Elon, which clinched its second-straight SoCon regular season title with Friday night's extra inning victory over the Catamounts, improved to 36-14 overall and 23-4 in league play while WCU dropped to 30-20 overall, 16-10 in the SoCon.

Western Carolina's six hits were scattered between six different players. Matt Johns stretched his career-best hitting streak to 16-straight with a single, adding a sacrifice bunt in a 1-for-3 performance. Stephen Notaro put Western on the board with his team-leading 13th home run of the season in the bottom of the fifth, with J.C. Lyons driving in the Catamounts' only other run with an RBI single in the sixth.

Elon climbed on top in the visitor's half of the second inning as Irvine tripled to right center on a ball that careened off the fence away from centerfielder Nick Liles. A hit bats man and walk loaded the bases for the Phoenix with Dallas Tarleton driving in the first run on a sacrifice fly to right. Consecutive RBI singles then gave Elon a 3-0 edge through two.

In the third, Irvine lifted a one-out line drive solo homer that just cleared the right field fence, with the second marker of the frame coming on a double-steal as Mike Melillo advanced to home on a throw to second base in an attempt to nail Dallas Tarleton.

Cory Harrilchak stretched the lead to 6-0 with a solo home run to right center with two out in the fourth.

WCU got on the board on the first pitch in the home half of the fifth. Notaro blasted a solo shot over the left field fence, but could not ignite a rally as the Catamounts went in order following his homer.

An inning later, Western had a golden opportunity but managed just a single run. Liles and freshman Ross Heffley opened the frame with consecutive singles before a one-out rip up the middle by Lyons drove in Liles from second, trimming the deficit to four, 6-2. Johns sacrificed runners to second and third with a bunt attempt up the middle ahead of Notaro, who walked to load the bases. However, after battling to a full count, Mitchell Hatley flew out to center on a well-struck ball to end the threat.

Including Hatley's line-out to center, the Catamounts went in order through the final three frames - 10-straight, all told.

Senior Mike Tavernier (5-5) suffered the loss in his final home appearance for WCU. The Clearwater, Fla., native allowed the first six Elon runs on seven hits with a walk and three strikeouts in four innings of work. Classmate Garrett Ozar was again solid in relief limiting the Phoenix to one run on three hits in four and two-thirds with two walks and four strikeouts. Daniel Ottone allowed one hit and a walk in a third of an inning relief in the ninth.

Tom Porter (2-3) allowed both WCU runs and all six hits in his five and two-thirds innings pitched to score the victory, working around one walk with four strikeouts. Jordan Darnell walked one in a third of an inning in loading the bases, while Ken Ferrer faced the minimum through the final three frames with two strikeouts to earn his second save of the season. v Offensively for Elon, Cory Harrilchak and Pat Irvine homered as part of two-hit performances with Irvine also legging out his fourth triple of the season. Harry Austin rounded out the trio of Phoenix with multi-hit games with a pair of singles.

The Catamounts will hit the road for the final four games of the 2009 regular season beginning Wednesday evening at High Point. WCU downed the Panthers, 14-4, in Cullowhee back on March 17. Western will wrap-up its slate with a three-game SoCon series at Davidson beginning Thursday night.

The 2009 Southern Conference Baseball Championship will be held May 20-24 at Fluor Field at the West End in Greenville, S.C. Final seeding and pairings will not be determined until later this coming week.