College of Charleston
Elon
Ninth-Inning Rally Falls Short As CofC Loses To Elon, 14-12
5/24/2012 7:13:00 PM | Baseball
In a game that last three hours and 54 minutes, the longest nine-inning CofC game this season, the two conference rivals combined for 26 runs on a tournament-record 39 hits. Elon built a 7-2 lead after three innings and eventually led 11-5, but the Cougars battled back with a three-run ninth inning nearly setting a new SoCon record for the largest ninth inning comeback.
The loss eliminated the College of Charleston (37-20) from the 2012 SoCon Tournament after the Cougars fell to The Citadel in extra innings yesterday.
Trailing 14-9 entering the bottom of the ninth inning, CofC's first five batters reached base including an RBI single by Marty Gantt and a two-run, bases loaded single from Brandon Murray that made the score 14-12. After Elon's Nate Young induced a popup from Daniel Aldrich, Rob Harding walked to load the bases for Bradley Goodson. However, Goodson struck out and Tyler Jackson grounded out to end the game.
"We didn't throw the ball well," head coach Monte Lee said. "Defensively, we made three errors that led to six runs and they did a good job of capitalizing on our mistakes. We made a really good comeback and we swung the bats well today. We had a shot in the end, but we couldn't pull it out."
Elon opened the game with seven unearned runs in the first three innings on three CofC errors. The Cougars pulled to within 7-5 in the fourth frame on a solo home run from Jimmy Holton and a three-run bomb from Brandon Glazer.
The homer was Holton's first of his career as he finished the game with a career-best three hits including a home run and a double. Glazer's bomb marked his fifth home run in the last eight games as he cleared Fluor Field's Green Monster replica in left field.
The Phoenix, however, responded with four runs in the fifth inning, including a bases-loaded double from Alex Swim, to push the margin to 11-5.
Elon's Ryan Kinsella led the way offensively with four hits and a career-high five RBIs. Swim tallied three RBIs while Joey Tomko drove in two batters.
The Cougars used a 4-for-6 performance from Gantt who drove in three and scored two runs. Brandon Murray set a new career mark with four hits and three RBIs, while Jackson hit a pinch-hit two run double as well.
CofC starter Josh Renfro (6-7) was tagged with the loss after allowing six unearned runs on eight hits through the first two innings. Reliever Nick Osterman gave up five runs through 2.1 innings of work and Drew Freie, Ryan West and Dre Watts all allowed a run.
Elon's Andrew MacDonald (5-3) picked up the win after starter Spencer Medick only lasted three innings.
The College of Charleston will now wait for the NCAA Selection Show on Monday at noon on ESPNU to determine if the Cougars will reach an NCAA Regional as an at-large team.
