WILMINGTON, N.C. – Ethan Baucom had four hits and reliever Jason Hudak held the Elon lineup in check into the ninth inning as UNCW tied a season-high with 18 hits in a 16-7 win over the Phoenix on Saturday at Brooks Field.
The Seahawks evened the series with the win and improved to 24-17 on the season overall and 9-5 in the Colonial Athletic Association. The Phoenix, meanwhile, fell to 19-22 and 4-10 in the league.
Baucom was one of six UNCW hitters with multi-hit games. He scored three runs and knocked in three as UNCW broke the game open with two in the sixth inning and a season-high seven in the seventh.
Dillon Lifrieri and Matt Suggs added three hits apiece. Suggs belted his 11th home run of the season, a two-run shot in the second, that gave UNCW a 3-2 lead. Lifrieri scored four runs and drove in two.
Hudak (4-10) allowed one run on three hits and a walk over his career-long 4.1 innings to earn the win.
Alex Iadisernia drove in two runs on a pair of hits for the Phoenix who held leads in the first and third innings.
Elon reliever Kyle Greenler (3-2) took the loss as one of five pitchers used out of the bullpen.
How it happened: Elon gained a 4-3 lead with two in the top of the third, but the Seahawks answered with two of their own to build a 5-4 advantage. Jac Croom, who finished with three RBI’s, plated the tying run with a sacrifice fly and one batter later, Suggs broke the deadlock with a RBI single to left. UNCW pushed the lead to three, 7-4, with two more runs in the fourth.
Inside the box score: Lifrieri and Baucom had two hits apiece with RISP as UNCW totaled eight on the afternoon … Both teams landed their leadoff hitter on base four times … In UNCW’s seven-run seventh, 11 batters made their way to the plate and the Seahawks pieced together six straight hits, including a pair of doubles for a 16-6 lead … UNCW’s five doubles tied a season-high.
Home Runs: UNCW – Suggs (11, one man on in the second inning, 354 feet to left, exit velo 105)
Up next: The deciding game of the series is set for a 1 p.m. start on Sunday.
