GREENSBORO – Elon loaded the bases in the ninth inning and received two clutch hits, leading the Phoenix to an 8-6 win over the North Carolina A&T Aggies in Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) baseball action Saturday afternoon at World War Memorial Stadium.
The Aggies put the tying run at the plate in the home ninth inning but could not provide the necessary firepower as they dropped to 24-26 overall and 8-15 in conference play. Elon evened the series on Saturday after losing Friday night's series opener. Elon goes into the series finale on Sunday at 1 p.m., 20-29 overall and 9-14 in league play.
Before the rubber game of the three-game series on Sunday, the Aggies will celebrate the achievements of their 15 seniors on Senior Day. Senior right-handed pitcher Connor Blantz (L, 2-4) opened the visitor's ninth on the mound with the Aggies leading 6-5. Blantz walked the first two batters he faced in, Kenny Mallory, Jr. and Charlie Granatell. Pinch-hitter Justin Szestowicki singled to load the bases for Will Vergantino.
RHP Carter Daniels entered the game after the Szestowicki single. Daniels put Vergantino down in the count 0-2 before Vergantino singled through the left side to score two and give the Phoenix the lead at 7-6. Sprock added some cushion with an RBI double to center, giving the Phoenix a two-run advantage heading into the A&T ninth.
The Aggies faced RHP Ben Sieracki (W, 3-4) in the ninth and immediately put the tying run at the plate when junior Chet Sikes reached on a bunt single and moved to second on a throwing error. Sieracki retired the next two Aggie batters before facing pinch-hitter Grayson Preslar. Preslar grounded out to second to end the game.
It was an unfortunate end for an A&T team that led 5-0 after three innings. With the game scoreless heading into the third, senior Devon Rodriguez led off with a single followed by back-to-back strikeouts before Elon right-handed starter Nolan Straniero walked graduate first baseman Tatsunori Negishi. Straniero also walked senior Tre Williams to load the bases.
Junior Canyon Brown, who has 12 hits in his last six games, delivered again with a two-run single, scoring Rodriguez and Negishi for a 2-0 A&T lead. Staniero loaded the bases again by giving senior TJ Ash a free pass. Sikes stepped to the plate next and provided A&T with a three-run double to right center for the five-run advantage.
Elon got on the board with a solo home run from Sprock in the fourth inning before Ash added an RBI single in the bottom half to put A&T ahead 6-1. But a five-run fifth inning started Elon's march toward a come-from-behind win as the Phoenix cut A&T's lead to 6-5 before Elon's crucial ninth inning.
Sikes led the Aggies with two hits and three RBIs. Ash and Rodriguez also had two-hit games.
