May 26, 2006

Charleston, S.C. - Second-seeded College of Charleston picked apart five Elon pitchers, garnering 12 runs on 19 hits en route to a 12-1 victory Friday afternoon in the Southern Conference Championships at Riley Park. With the win, the Cougars advance to the Championship game for a chance to clinch the SoCon's at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament.

Jeff Beliveau (5-3) and Quinn Monsma combined to allow only one Elon run on seven hits, only the second earned run allowed by the Cougar pitching staff in 23 innings of work during the tournament. Beliveau struck out six in six full innings of work, giving up only six hits and Elon's lone run.

The College of Charleston (42-15) put across two runs in the third and fourth inning before exploding for six runs in the sixth inning. The Cougars were aided by Jess Easterling's three RBI as he has now driven in nine runs in CofC's three games during the tournament.

Lance Cole (8-3) received the loss for Elon (44-15), as he and four other Elon pitchers gave up the most number of hits for the Phoenix (19) in 2006. Only Cole and Elon's final reliever of the game, Chris Vasami, faced more than 10 batters in the game.

The Phoenix found it hard to arise from the ashes in a game where they committed four errors.

CofC, despite scoring 12 runs, were limited offensively as the Cougars stranded 13 runners in the game.

The Cougars now advance to the SoCon Championship game on Saturday, May 27 at 7 p.m. CofC will face the team that survives loser's bracket group. Elon falls to the loser's bracket for an elimination game. The Phoenix will take on the winner of the Western Carolina-The Citadel game on Saturday, May 27 at noon.

Riley Park was packed with 2,157 fans in the tournament winner's bracket final.