GREENSBORO, N.C. – Elon University baseball built an early 5-0 lead, but couldn't slow down North Carolina A&T as the hosts rallied for a 9-8 final on Wednesday, March 4 at War Memorial Stadium.
 
AT THE PLATE
Anthony Galason went 2-for-4 with a triple, a double, a run scored, and three runs driven in. Nick Cicci also hit 2-for-4 and scored twice, while Alex Iadisernia finished 1-for-2 with a triple, two runs, and three walks. Jarret Pico turned in a 1-for-3 effort with a run, an RBI, and a base on balls. Willie Havens and Adam Spurlin each batted 1-for-4, while Matt Oldham scored a run and drove in another in a 1-for-5 outing. 

ON THE MOUND
Joe Sprake (0-1) was handed the loss after surrendering two runs in the ninth. Starter Sean O'Connell was tagged for two runs in 1.0 inning pitched, Liam Dabagian allowed two more runs in 2.0 innings pitched, and Brian Edgington was responsible for another three runs through 4.0 innings. He had the most strikeouts on the day with five. Trevor Kirk also made an appearance and held the home team to one hit in 1.0 shutout inning.

THE RUNDOWN
Elon's bats were hot early as the Phoenix (6-7) poured on four runs on five hits in the top of the first. Iadisernia led off with a triple to the gap in right. After a pair of batters went down swinging, Galason followed Iadisernia's lead and tripled to right. Oldham then singled through the left side to plate Galason and Cicci doubled to right center to place runners in scoring position for Havens. The freshman delivered a hit back up the middle for the 4-0 advantage. The maroon and gold tacked on another run in the second as a Galason sacrifice fly to center brought home Iadisernia.

The Aggies (6-6) responded with a crooked number in the bottom of the second. With the bases loaded, a wild pitch put N.C. A&T on the board and a sac fly plated another run to cut the Elon lead to 5-2. The Phoenix pulled away 7-2 in the third as Cicci scored from second on a Pico double down the right-field line and Pico tagged up on a Sponseller sac fly to center. However, N.C. A&T came up with an answer with a pair of runs in the home half of the frame. A single through the left side allowed a runner at second to touch home, and a hit to left made it 7-4. The Aggies manufactured another run in the fourth on a hit through the right side with runners on the corners.

Elon pushed across its final run in the sixth as Joe Satterfield walked and was waved home on a Galason double over the head of the center fielder. The Aggies pulled to within 8-7 with two runs on three hits and an error in the seventh. Back-to-back doubles and a throwing error plate one run and allowed the second batter to reach third. He then came around on a single to center. N.C. A&T loaded the bases in the ninth, and a pair of walks pushed across the tying run and the winning run.

NOTES
-O'Connell made his first collegiate start.
-Havens earned his first career hit.
-Galason's three RBIs ties his career high and marks the third time that he's driven in three runs while at Elon.
-It was the third multi-hit outing of the season for Galason. Today's game also marked the second time the Colts Neck, N.J. native recorded multiple extra-base hits in a game. He had two doubles and a home run in a win at Towson last season on April 7.
-Cicci posted his fourth multi-hit game of the season.
-Iadisernia collected his first career triple and third extra-base hit of the season.
-Elon falls to 49-9-1 in the all-time series. The two programs meet again on April 28 for a 6 p.m. game at Latham Park.

UP NEXT
Elon is back home this weekend to host Illinois (6-4) for a three-game series at Latham Park.