Roupp's Complete-Game Shutout Sends UNCW Past Elon, 2-0
Rob Washburn
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WILMINGTON, N.C. (May 27, 2021) – CAA Pitcher of the Year Landen Roupp fired a complete-game, three-hit shutout with a career-high tying 12 strikeouts to lead second-seeded UNCW to a 2-0 victory over #3 Elon in the CAA Baseball Championship on Thursday night at UNCW’s Brooks Field.
The Seahawks (31-20) advance to play top-seeded Northeastern in the winner’s bracket at 7 p.m. on Friday. Elon (22-21) will play at 3 p.m. on Friday in an elimination contest against either Charleston or William & Mary.
Roupp (8-4) retired the first 12 batters he faced, surrendered three singles and struck out two batters in five of his nine frames. The junior right-hander only dealt with an Elon runner in scoring position in the sixth and eighth innings, and was able to escape both jams by recording strikeouts. The complete-game shutout was his second of the season and just the second by UNCW in CAA Tournament history.
Elon also got an excellent pitching performance from freshman right-hander Joe Savino (0-3), who limited UNCW to two runs (one earned) on five hits over 7.1 innings and fanned eight.
UNCW broke a scoreless tie in the fourth. Matt Suggs drew a leadoff walk, and a throwing error on Cole Weiss’ bunt single put runners on the corners. Elon was able to turn a double play on Dillon Lifrieri’s grounder to second, but Suggs came home to put the Seahawks on top, 1-0.
UNCW tacked on an insurance run without getting a hit in the eighth. Brooks Baldwin reached on an error, advanced to third following a sacrifice bunt and a groundout, and scored on a wild pitch.
Elon’s best scoring chance came in the sixth. With two outs, Justin Cassella walked, stole second and moved to third on a throwing error. However, Roupp responded with a strikeout to end the threat.
Weiss was the lone UNCW player with multiple hits, going 2-for-4. Outfielder Anthony Galason went 2-for-3 to pace Elon offensively.
It was the sixth time in seven matchups this season between UNCW and Elon that the game was decided by two runs or less.