Elon tops Pirates in 10 innings

Bonesville staff report
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GREENVILLE —  Three walks and a run-scoring single through the right side by Kyle Jackson in the top of the 10th inning lifted Elon to an 8-7 win over No. 16 East Carolina at Clark-LeClair Stadium on Wednesday.

The Pirates dropped to 6-2 with their second straight loss. ECU moved in to the national rankings after winning a series at Virginia, the 2015 College World Series champions.

Elon improved to 4-5.

A seven-game winning streak at home was halted for East Carolina, which had beaten Elon 12 straight times.

The Phoenix took leads of 2-0 in the third, 4-2 in the fifth and 7-4 in the sixth but ECU tied the score in the bottom of each inning.

Although Charlie Yorgen, the leadoff batter in the bottom of the 10th, got aboard on a throwing error, the Pirates were unable to produce a run in their last at-bat as Chris Hall (1-1) worked the last one and two-thirds innings for the win.

Joe Ingle (1-1) took the loss as he allowed one hit and one run while walking three and striking out three over the last three innings.

Travis Watkins was 3-for-5 with two RBIs, a double and a run for ECU. Jeff Nelson was 3-for-4 with two doubles and three runs for the Pirates. The duo had half of ECU's hits as the Pirates outhit the visitors, 12-11.

Eric Tyler had a hit and two RBIs in the setback.

Down 7-4 going to the bottom of the sixth, ECU evened the score as Luke Bolka came home on a balk, Nelson was driven in on a sacrifice fly by Parker Lamm and Watkins' double brought in Yorgen.

A double by Nelson started the Pirates in the fifth. Lamm followed with a sacrifice bunt. With two out, Watkins walked and Bryce Harman was hit by a pitch. Tyler's single up the middle brought in two runs to tie the score at 4.

The Pirates began their half of the third with singles by Bolka and Nelson. Lamm sacrificed to move the runners up. Yorgen's infield single brought in Bolka to cut Elon's lead to 2-1. An infield single by Watkins brought in the tying run.

Danny Lynch had three hits and three RBIs for the Phoenix. Tyler McVicar had two hits and three RBIs. Liam O'Regan collected a pair of hits for Elon.

The Pirates host the 13th annual Keith LeClair Classic this weekend. ECU plays Southeastern Louisiana on Friday at 4:30 p.m. The Lions defeated visiting Tulane 13-4 on Tuesday to up their record to 5-3.

ECU plays Tennessee on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. and meets Maryland on Sunday at 3:30 p.m.

PAGE UPDATED 03/03/16 01:39 AM.

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