GREENSBORO, N.C. — After falling behind early, the Elon Phoenix baseball team tried to rally, but fell short of North Carolina A&T by a 5-3 score on Wednesday afternoon at War Memorial Stadium.
The Aggies (4-2) pushed across three first-inning runs thanks to two hits and an Elon error to claim an early lead. A&T’s edge increased to 4-0 with an unearned run in the third before a Luke Tendler double in the fifth scored another to make it 5-0.
Elon (6-2) loaded the bases with a walk and two singles to begin the seventh inning. A RBI ground out byCasey Jones got the Phoenix on the board before an Aggie error allowed a second Phoenix run to score. Ryan Cooper picked up a RBI when he reached on a fielder’s choice as the maroon and gold cut its deficit to just two runs, 5-3.
With one out in the eighth, Elon put two on before two ground outs ended the Phoenix’s attempt to tie the score. The Phoenix also got the tying run to the plate in the ninth, but could not push any runs across.
Tyler Manez (0-2) suffered the loss after giving up five runs (two earned) on four hits in 4.1 innings.
The win went to DarAmani Swift (1-0) who kept the Phoenix at bay for six innings despite allowing six hits and walking six hitters. He was charged with one run. Brian Poag tossed 1.2 scoreless innings to earn his first save of the year.
The Phoenix will return home to Latham Park this weekend when it hosts the Elon Invitational. Elon will face Saint Joseph’s at 4 p.m. on Friday. The first game of the day will pit High Point against Gardner-Webb at noon.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Elon 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 3 9 2
North Carolina A&T 3 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 X 5 4 2
Win – SWIFT,D. (1-0)
Loss – Manez (0-2)
Save – POAG,Brian (1).
Umpires – HP: Fred Shaner 1B: Clint Lawson 3B: Bob Reid
Start: 3:00 pm Time: 2:40 Attendance:
Weather: 45 deg., Ptly Cldy, Winds:NNW9
Kacer faced 2 batters in the 6th.
SWIFT,D. faced 1 batter in the 7th.
Krill faced 2 batters in the 7th.