Box Score ELON, N.C. -- The Elon Phoenix baseball team headed down I-40 looking to complete the season series sweep of 25th-ranked North Carolina State on Wednesday evening, but saw the Wolfpack rally twice to claim an 8-6 win over the maroon and gold.

Elon (18-12) got things going right away.  Blaine Bower reached on an infield single, stole second and moved to third on another infield single, this one from Niko Fraser.  Alex Swim followed with a sacrifice fly to left to put the Phoenix in front 1-0.  With runners on the corners and two outs, Sebastian Gomez made it a 2-0 game with a soft liner to center for a RBI single.

NC State (21-10) got one back in the last of the first when Tarran Senay's ground out allowed Jake Fincher to score from third.

After the Wolfpack tied it in the bottom of the fourth on a sacrifice fly, NC State took advantage of an Elon error to kick-start a four-run sixth.  Brett Austin started the inning with a grounder to second that was misplayed before a Senay single and wild pitch put runners on second and third.  Jake Armstrong followed with a single to right-center to drive home both runners and put the Wolfpack on top 4-2.  With runners on second and third and one out, Grant Clyde singled home two more and NC State led 6-2.

The Phoenix stormed right back in the top of the seventh, tying the game at six.  Chris King started the rally with a double down the right field line and later scored on a double down the left field line off the bat of Quinn Bower.  Elon loaded the bases as Chris Bresnahan was hit by a pitch and Wil Leathers walked before Swim hit a grounder to short that could not be fielded cleanly, allowing both Quinn Bower and Bresnahan to come home.  A fielder's choice that erased Swim plated Leathers to knot the game at six.

With runners at first and second with one away, Senay lifted a fly ball to left that dropped for an error, loading the bags for NC State.  Armstrong hit one back toward the mound, the ball deflecting off the pitcher's glove, for an infield single to drive in the go-ahead tally two pitches later.  A sac fly would account for the final run of the game.

Jordan Darnell (0-1) took the loss for Elon.  He was charged with two runs (one earned) on two hits in an inning of work.  Starter Jacob Baker allowed five runs (four earned) on six hits in five innings.

The win went to Grant Sasser (2-0).  Sasser threw the final 2.2 innings and allowed just one unearned run.

Elon will get back to Southern Conference play this weekend as the Phoenix heads to Charleston, S.C. to face The Citadel Bulldogs in a three-game series beginning at 6 p.m. on Friday night.