ELON, NC – North Carolina A&T collected more extra-base hits, including more home runs, but this time the Aggies could not outslug the Elon Phoenix in a 9-6 season finale loss in Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) baseball play at Latham Park on Sunday afternoon.
A&T's baseball season comes to an end at 19-28. The Aggies completed their first season in the CAA 11-17, an eight-game improvement from their first and only season in the Big South Conference in 2022. The Aggies also outperformed their last-place prediction but failed to qualify for the CAA tournament.
Despite those realities, the Aggies came out looking to end their 2023 season with a win to show their improvement from last season further. Like Saturday's game, the Aggies scored early and often. Aggies right fielder Shemar Dalton, who homered on Saturday, did the same on Sunday to open the game. His solo shot to right field marked his third home run of the season.
Two batters later, second baseman Tre Williams singled through the right side with two outs before catcher Canyon Brown captured his fifth home run of the season, a two-run shot to left field to give the Aggies a 3-0 first-inning lead. Brown went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI. His two RBI give him 31 on the season, marking the second straight season he will lead the Aggies in RBI.
Brown's blast ended Elon right-handed starter Ryan Sprock's afternoon after only 2/3 innings pitched. RHP Joe Savino (W, 5-1) replaced Sprock and struck out Aggies first baseman Anthony Hennings to end the inning. Elon got a run back in its first, as first baseman Cole Reynolds singled up the middle to score Charlie Granatell, who doubled before him.
But the Aggies recaptured their three-run lead in the second as Savino walked center fielder TJ Ash to open the frame. Shortstop Sabin Roane moved him to second on a bunt sacrifice. Third baseman Cort Maynard brought Ash home with a two-out RBI single through the right side to give the Aggies a 4-1 lead. Another Savino strikeout ended A&T's second.
But Elon would put together a big second to take the lead. Catcher Parker Haskin hit an RBI single to right to score Kenny Mallory Jr., who singled earlier in the inning. With the bases loaded, A&T starter and RHP Jaheim Brown forced in a run by walking Reynolds, cutting the Aggies lead to 4-3. Center fielder Justin Cassella gave the Phoenix the lead with a two-run RBI double to left.
But the Aggies recaptured the lead in the visitor's third as Williams hit a leadoff single to left field before Brown singled to put Aggies at first and second. A sac bunt by Cameran Brantley put both runners into scoring position. Hennings scored Williams by grounding out to short, tying the game at 5-5. Ash's RBI double gave the Aggies a 6-5 advantage as Brown scored.
Unfortunately, that would mark the Aggies final run of the season. Elon tied the game at 6-6 in the home third on an RBI sac fly from Haskin. Elon was able to tie the game to take the lead at 7-6 on a Reynolds solo home run off Aggies RHP Justin Poris (L, 1-3). The Phoenix added two more runs in the seventh on a Haskin two-run homer. Haskin went 3-for-3 on the day with four RBI.
LHP Liam Dabagian (S, 1) entered the game in the eighth and pitched his way out of the jam before allowing two Aggies to reach base in the ninth. Maynard earned a two-out walk, and designated hitter Camden Jackson reached on an infield single to put the tying run at the plate. But Williams grounded out to end the game.
Elon is headed to the tournament as it improved to 30-20 overall and 17-9 in league play. Williams went 2-for-5 with two runs scored in the Aggies finale as he will end the season as the Aggies leader in batting average (.316), doubles (14) and slugging percentage.
