ELON, NC – North Carolina A&T did not start well in its final Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) three-game baseball series. 

The Elon Phoenix pounded out 14 hits in an 11-2 win over the Aggies at Latham Park. A&T third baseman Cort Maynard led the Aggies by going 2-for-4 with two RBI. Left fielder Cameran Brantley also had a multiple-hit game by going 2-for-4. The Aggies dropped to 18-27 overall and 10-16 in the CAA. Elon ended a two-game losing streak, improving to 29-19 overall and 16-8 in league play. 

Elon took an early 2-0 lead after two innings, but the Aggies had a response in the visitor's third. Aggies first baseman Anthony Hennings, returning from injury, led off the frame with a walk. Then, Elon starter and left-hander Shea Sprague (W, 6-3) hit shortstop Sabin Roane with a 1-1 pitch to put runners on first and second. 

After Sprague struck out the next two batters he faced, Maynard singled up the middle to score Hennings to cut Elon's lead to 2-1. The Aggies rally ended on a flyout from designated hitter Camden Jackson. 

But Elon stretched its lead from there. The Phoenix added two runs in the third inning off a two-run home run by Tanner Holliman to take a 4-1 lead. Another two-run homer, this one by Justin Cassella in the fourth, gave Elon a five-run lead. Cassella had a 4-for-5 day that included five RBI and two runs scored. 

An RBI sacrifice fly by Elon designated hitter Ryan Sprock in the fifth grew the Phoenix's lead to 7-1 before the Aggies had a response in their seventh. With Shemar Dalton at first with two out, Maynard doubled to left to score Dalton to cut Elon's lead to five. RHP Ben Simon came in to replace Sprague on the mound and got Jackson to fly out. 

Elon put up four more runs in its seventh to close out the scoring for the game. Elon got to A&T starter and RHP Coley Kilpatrick (L, 3-7) early as he pitched 2.2 innings before LHP Daniel Carter replaced him. The two Piedmont Region teams will play Game 2 of the series on Saturday, with the first pitch scheduled for 4 p.m.