Elon Claims SoCon Baseball Tournament Title

Championship Game: #1 Elon 17, #2CollegeofCharleston8

Box Score

Photos

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Elon (43-16) claimed the Bennett Hofford Family of Hotels Southern Conference Championship and a berth in the NCAA Regionals with a 17-8 triumph overCollegeofCharleston(39-20) in the title game before 2,255 fans at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park inCharleston,S.C.

Elon became the first team sinceWestern Carolinain 2003 to finish first in the regular season standings and capture the tournament championship as well. ThePhoenixposted a 19-8 regular season mark to edgeCollegeofCharlestonby one game. It marks the first tournament title for Elon, which joined the conference in 2003.

Elon lost two of three meetings withCollegeofCharlestonduring the regular season and were outscored 44-22 by the Cougars. But they turned the tables in the tournament, building a 12-3 lead after seven innings en route to the victory.

Elon will enter the NCAA Regionals with an nine-game winning streak.

Elon starter Cory Harrilchak (7-3) scattered four hits and struck out five in six innings of work to pick up the win. Harrilchak was 5-for-5 at the plate with three RBI while scoring four runs.

Elon pushed a run across in the second inning after Bennett Davis singled and Chase Austin doubled.CollegeofCharlestonanswered in the top of the third inning when Stuart Haywood launched a home run to center field.

ThePhoenixadded three runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 4-1 lead. Chris Dove and Donny Jobe singled and Harrilchak doubled down the right field line to score Dove.Davisreached on a fielder’s choice, scoring Jobe.Austinthen drove in Harrilchak with the third run of the inning.

In the top of the sixth inning,CollegeofCharlestonscored two runs to make the score 4-3. After Michael Harrington walked, Mike Hentz tripled down the right field line, scoring Harrington, and scored on an error.

Elon broke it open in the bottom of the sixth with five runs.Irvine, Dove and Harrilchak walked to load the bases.Davisdrove in two runs with a single to left field. After Dallas Tarleton was hit by a pitch,Austinsingled in two more runs. Mike Lobacz doubled in Tarleton for the final run of the inning.

ThePhoenixadded three more runs in the seventh inning. With two outs, Harrilchak and Davis stroked singles before Tarleton homered to right field. Both team exploded for five runs each in the eighth inning making the final score 17-8.

Jesse Simpson (9-3) allowed nine hits and issued two walk in 4.2 innings of work, allowing four runs and was saddled with the loss.

The 2008 championship set the tournament record for runs scored per game. Over 15 games, tournament teams average 20.5 runs per game.

Elon’s Harrilchak was named Most Outstanding Player of the 2008 Southern Conference Championship as voted by the media.

SoCon All-Tournament Team

C- Dallas Tarleton (Elon)

1B- Jay Jackson (Furman)

2B- Tim Carrier (UNCGreensboro)

SS- Chase Austin (Elon)

3B- Bennett Davis (Elon)

OF- Stuart Haywood (College of Charleston)

OF- Chris Shehan (GeorgiaSouthern)

OF- Cory Harrilchak (Elon)

DH- Greg Feltes (UNCGreensboro)

P- Mike Lynn (CollegeofCharleston)