June 1, 2008

• Box Score
• Quotes

CARY, N.C. (AP) _ Shane French's two-run double highlighted an 11-run ninth inning that helped North Carolina-Wilmington rally from a seven-run deficit and beat Elon 15-11 on Sunday in an elimination game at the Cary Regional.

Bobby Leeper finished with three RBIs for the Seahawks, who trailed 11-4 after eight innings.

Eight consecutive UNC Wilmington batters reached base in the ninth inning, with No. 9 hitter Mike Rooney tying it at 11-all with a two-run single up the middle off reliever Thomas Girdwood.

French, pinch-hitting for Alex Hill, followed that with a drive off the fence in right-center that brought home pinch-runner Marc Locklear and Rooney, gave the Seahawks a 13-11 lead and put them ahead for good.

It wasn't even the most productive inning of the season for UNC Wilmington (44-16-1) _ which scored 14 runs in the fourth inning of a victory at James Madison _ but it was enough to help the Seahawks reach the championship round against North Carolina, which won 5-1 on Saturday.

UNC Wilmington needed two wins against the Tar Heels to claim the first super regional berth in school history.

Winning pitcher Bryan Booth (1-0) got the final two outs of the eighth inning for UNC Wilmington. Girdwood (5-2) took the loss after allowing five runs and allowing all five batters he faced to reach base.

Bennett Davis hit his team-leading 18th homer and Donny Jobe drove in three runs for Elon (44-18), which rallied from a 4-1 deficit with six runs in the sixth.

Jobe's two-run single over a drawn-in infield highlighted a four-run eighth that gave the Phoenix a seven-run lead and seemingly put them in control.