On a day that had perfect weather for a baseball game, the Wolfpack did not play perfect baseball and lost to the Elon Phoenix Wednesday evening 5-3. With only four hits the entire day on offense and numerous walks from its pitchers, the baseball team was unable to overcome the Phoenix. The loss drops the Pack to 10-9 on the season and moves Elon to 9-5.
“It’s tough when you see only four hits on the board, but I thought their starter pitched good, and they had all their pitchers fresh,” coach Elliott Avent said. “There was some progress there though. We played better, but there are a lot of ways we have to play better.”
Elon struck first in the top of the first inning with a run, but the Pack answered right back in the bottom half of the inning with a run of its own after an infield single by junior Dallas Poulk, who was then able to score from first off of a double by junior Drew Poulk. The Phoenix were then able to tack on four more runs, three coming in the forth inning off the bat of Cory Harrichak, who hit a three-run homerun after back-to-back walks by redshirt junior pitcher Alex Sogard. Harricak, who led the Phoenix going 3-4, also pitched 1.2 scoreless innings.
“We just haven’t made as many good pitches as we want. Me personally, I have had a high number of walks, and I think that is our biggest problem right now” Sogard said. “Walks tend to score a lot, so if we can get those under control we should be alright.”
State hit a slump offensively after the first inning, managing just one hit over the next six innings, until redshirt sophomore Chris Schaeffer hit a two-run homerun to take the game to 5-3. The Pack then remained scoreless, not managing another hit the rest of the game.
“It’s been rough. Tonight a lot of guys had better at bats, we were just hitting it right at people,” Schaeffer said. “We can’t really complain on the way our offense went tonight. We just have to work on it and get better.”
Starting pitcher Zak Sinclair, who got the loss, managed to only pitch two innings, giving up two runs and leaving State leaning heavily on their bullpen. Five Pack relief pitchers pitched in the game and combined for seven innings pitched, three runs, six hits and five strikeouts.
“It’s just like any other game–you have to be ready the whole time,” Sogard said. “You can’t expect the starters to go six or seven every game, even though you would like them to.”
Even after the loss and a tough start to the first part of the season, the Pack remains confident in themselves and their ability.
“Sometimes when things aren’t going well, it kind of steams rolls and things carry over. Guys are putting out great effort, but maybe it’s too much, not enough relaxation,” Avent said. “We played so well in the preseason and we just haven’t played to that level yet. I think they are pressing a little bit, but if they keep going after it like the way they are in practice, I think things will turn around.”
