ELON – Playing their fourth game in three days, the North Carolina A&T suffered a non-conference baseball midweek defeat to the Elon Phoenix, 8-3, inside Latham Park on Tuesday evening. 

The Aggies (13-34) got off to as good of a start as one could ask for, with junior Cameran Brantley launching a lead-off home run over the center field wall in the Aggies first. But, unfortunately, the Phoenix had a better first. 

.Redshirt junior right-hander Jeremiah Foster (L, 1-1) got the start for the Aggies on the mound but was only able to go one inning after allowing five runs on five hits in the Elon first.

Elon's first frame included three home runs. Justin Cassella led off with a single and, after stealing second, was brought around to score when Alex Iadisernia homered to right center, giving Elon a 2-1 advantage. 

Luke Stephenson followed with a single before Charlie Granatell and Luke Reynolds provided back-to-back jacks to give the Phoenix a 5-1 lead. 

RHP Ian Evans (W, 1-3) earned his first win on the mound this season after going 1.2 innings and allowing one run on three hits with two strikeouts. 

Thanks to great relief pitching for the Phoenix, they held an 8-1 advantage heading into the Aggies eighth as the five pitchers who followed Evans combined for 5.1 scoreless innings and eight strikeouts to keep A&T at bay.

In the Aggies eighth, however, A&T found some life.

Junior Bret Mersman began the inning with a single, and sophomore Noah Lea came on to pinch run. Freshman Sabin Roane then drew a one-out walk to put runners on first and second. Sophomore TJ Ash was hit by a pitch to load the bases, with graduate Alec Seaton coming to the plate. 

Seaton grounded into what would have been a double play to end the inning, but he beat the throw to first, allowing Lea to score from first and make it 8-2. 

Brantley came to the plate next and smoked a double to right field that scored Roane, but junior Anthony Hennings fouled out to first base to end the threat. 

Brantley finished his day 2-for-4 with a home run, a double, two RBI and a walk drawn in the game. 

Granatell paced the Phoenix offense, also going 2-for-4 with two RBI.