Smith leads Elon to doubleheader sweep of CSU

Ian Holmen pitched a complete game two.

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Elon third baseman Robbie Smith picked up seven hits and six RBI to lead the Phoenix to a doubleheader sweep of Charleston Southern in Big South Conference baseball action at Buccaneer Field on Saturday.

Smith went five-for-five with four RBI in Elon's 11-4 game one victory, then followed with a pair of hits, including a homerun, and two more RBI in a 3-2 Phoenix victory. Smith's homerun in the sixth inning of game two gave Elon a 2-1 lead, but the Phoenix needed a two-out, seventh inning homerun from Gary Morris to pull out the second game victory.

With the victories, Elon improves to 27-20-2 overall and 10-6 in the Big South Conference while Charleston Southern falls to 16-31 overall, 8-10 in the Big South.

Tyson Blocker (5-4) earned the victory in game one, completing eight innings and allowing just two hits and two earned runs while striking out eight. CSU starter Brad Bissell (4-10) took the loss, allowing five earned runs in just 1 1/3 innings of work. Elon put game one away quickly, scoring three runs in each of the first two innings.

Elon tallied 19 hits in the first game, with second baseman Paul Bennett and centerfielder Evan Tartaglia contributing three hits each.

Game two turned into a pitching duel between CSU starter Ian Holmen and Elon starter Lance Cole. Each team scored a run in the first and carried a 1-1 tie into the sixth inning. Smith gave Elon a 2-1 lead with a blast to right in the sixth only to see CSU's Brad Woods tie the game in the bottom of the sixth with a long homerun to left center. Cole left with an out in the sixth, allowing one earned run on five hits.

Holmen went the distance, striking out eight in seven innings. Morris' homerun to left proved to be the difference as the CSU starter fell to 1-5 on the season. Elon's Luke Pangle (5-2) earned the victory in relief, pitching the final 1 1/3 innings.

CSU managed just nine hits in the two games. Brandon Massey, Scott Thacker and Woods each had two hits to lead the way. Brian Sole had two RBI with a two-run homer, his sixth, in the ninth inning of game one.

CSU will next play at The Citadel on May 7th.

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