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Elon Completes Series Sweep With 8-5 Triumph Over Paladins
May 7, 2006
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Steven Hensley tossed a complete game and Robert Rodebaugh went 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBI to deliver an 8-2 win over Furman in Southern Conference baseball action Sunday afternoon at Furman Stadium.
The victory completed the three-game series sweep for Elon (39-13, 19-5 SoCon), whose 39 wins ties North Carolina and Virginia for the most victories in the country. The Phoenix, winners of six straight, also moved into first place in the Southern Conference by percentage points over College of Charleston, which entertains Georgia Southern Sunday evening.
The loss was the fifth in the last six games for Furman (28-17, 13-8 SoCon).
Hensley (5-3), a freshman righthander from Asheville, N.C., surrendered only two runs on eight hits and two walks in the contest. He struck out eight en route to his second complete game of the season.
Rodebaugh, meanwhile, belted his third home run in as many games, to headline the Phoenix offensive attack, which registered 11 hits. Chris Vasami also homered for Elon as part of a 2-for-5, two RBI performance, and Adam Weaver had two hits and scored three runs.
Furman managed just eight hits in support of Paladin starting pitcher Ryan Hodinka (9-1), who suffered his first loss of the season. The senior lefthander gave up four runs on eight hits and pair of walks over 6 2/3 innings. He struck out five in the game but was hurt by a three-run Elon third, which included home runs by Vasami and Rodebaugh.
Elon took a 1-0 lead in the first against Hodinka. With one out Weaver walked and advanced to third on Vasami's single. Rodebaugh followed with a single to right center field to score Weaver.
The Phoenix extended their advantage to 3-0 in the third on Vasami's 11th home run of the campaign, a towering two-run shot over the center field fence. Rodeaugh followed with his third home run of the series and ninth of the season, a solo blast to right center to make it 4-0.
Furman got on the board in the fourth after A.J. Davidiuk singled, advanced to second on a sacrifice and to third on a stolen base before coming home on Matt Young's groundout to cut the deficit to 4-1.
The Paladins loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth but managed to push across only one run against Hensley. After Joe Daysh walked to lead off and Marcus Rose and Berry Terry followed with singles, Hensley struck out Andrew Greene and yielded a RBI groundout to Case Cassedy before retiring Davidiuk on a grounder to shortstop.
With the score 4-2, Furman threatened again in the sixth by loading the bases with two outs, but Hensley handled a grounder off the bat of Ben Terry to end the frame.
Elon put the game away with four runs in the ninth. Jordy Snyder's double off Paladin reliever Jay Jackson scored Ryan Addison, and Donny Jobe followed with a double off Furman's Ryan Hudson to plate Snyder. Rodebaugh later added an RBI single, and the Phoenix tallied the final run of the inning on a Paladin throwing error.
Furman returns to action on Tuesday when it travels to Gardner-Webb for a 3:00 p.m. game.
