Miller's Ninth Inning Single Lift's Elon 3-2 over Baseball

ELON, N.C.. -Wes Miller drove a one-out RBI single to left field in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift Elon to a 3-2 Big South Conference baseball victory over Radford Saturday afternoon at Latham Park, extending the Phoenix winning streak to six-straight contests. (Box Score)

Miller’s game winning hit sent Taylor Stewart home from second base and gave the Phoenix (14-8-1, 3-0 Big South) the first victory in the three-game season series with the Highlanders (4-9, 0-1). The win also improved coach Mike Kennedy’s squad to 4-1 in one-run games so far this season.

Radford broke a scoreless tie in the top of the sixth inning with a pair of runs. Ryan Wetzel’s single to center plated Stuart Ritchie from second, and Kellen Wohlford later ran home from third on an error by Phoenix third baseman Robbie Smith.

Elon knotted the score up in the bottom of sixth when Evan Tartaglia doubled to left, driving both Miller and Holt Montgomery home. Both teams were unable to cross home plate in the seventh and eighth frames, setting the stage for Miller’s ninth-inning heroics.

Phoenix reliever Lance Cole (2-0) worked both the eighth and the ninth inning to earn the victory. Cole allowed just one hit while fanning a pair of Highlanders for two scoreless frames. He relieved starter Matt Garner, who scattered seven hits in seven innings while walking three and fanning three for one earned run.

Radford reliever Bret Lieberman (0-1) was charged with the loss, allowing one earned run on one hit and two free passes in 2/3 of an inning. He took over for starter Justin Tubb (five and 2/3 innings, seven hits, two earned runs, five BB, five SO) and fellow reliever Shaun House (two innings, one hit, two BB, one SO).

The Elon offense was keyed by Brian Ingram (4-for-4, BB, triple) and Miller (1-for-2, run, RBI, three BB). The Highlanders were paced by Wetzel (3-for-4, RBI) and Ritchie (1-for-3, run, BB, SB).

The Phoenix tallied a 9-8 edge in hits and a 9-3 advantage in walks to negate committing the game’s only two errors. The contest saw 24 runners left on base, including 16 by Elon.

The two teams will meet for the middle game of the series at 1 p.m. Sunday, and for the finale at 2:30 p.m. Monday. The entire series is being played at Latham Park on the Elon campus.