GREENSBORO, N.C. – Willie Havens homered twice and Alex Iadisernia once, but Elon University baseball could not hold off host North Carolina A&T as the Phoenix (3-8) fell 8-7 on a two-RBI walk-off hit Friday night, March 12 at War Memorial Stadium.

ON THE MOUND
Ben Simon fell to 0-2 on the season after giving up two runs on as many hits and a walk. The freshman from East Windsor, N.J. tossed 2.1 innings in relief and tallied three strikeouts in the loss. Joe Savino made the start and was tagged for six runs on six hits. He did not issue a walk and finished with six strikeouts through 5.0 innings pitched. Trevor Kirk also came out of the pen, holding the Aggies (5-8) to one hit and two walks. He did not allow a run and struck out two in 1.1 innings.
 
AT THE PLATE
Havens went deep twice in a 2-for-4 outing at the plate. The Amelia, Va. native drove in four runs and scored two more. Iadisernia hit 3-for-4 with the long ball, two runs scored and an RBI. Anthony Galason batted 2-for-4 with a double, and Cole Reynolds also posted a 2-for-4 game with a run scored and another driven in. Jarrett Pico went 1-for-4 and Parker Haskin 1-for-5 for the team's other hits.

THE RUNDOWN
Both sides produced early offense throughout the first three innings of the game. Iadisernia took a 2-2 pitch to right to open the scoring in the top of the first, but N.C. A&T responded with a sacrifice fly to left in the home half of the frame to knot the score at 1-1. Elon then retook the lead with a two-spot in the second. Havens led off with a homer to right, and Garrett Stonehouse scored from third as Carlos Marte hit into a 6-4-3 double play. The hosts answered with one run in the bottom of the inning as a runner from second came home on a hit to left.

Elon pulled away 7-2 with four runs on four hits in the third. After back-to-back singles by Haskin and Iadisernia placed runners on first and second, Reynolds earned an RBI with a single through the right side. Havens then went yard for the second in the game, this time with a three-run shot to right. The Aggies then got a run back in their next turn at the plate thanks to a two-out home run to right.

N.C. A&T pulled to within a run at 7-6 with a three-run bottom of the fifth. A bases-loaded hit through the left side scored one as the Aggies kept the bags full. The ensuing batter then singled to left and an Elon throwing error allowed two more runs to come in. The home team then secured the comeback victory with two runs in the bottom of the ninth. With one out and a runner on first, Elon looked to execute the 6-4-3 double play. However, a fielding error allowed the runners to reach safely. Simon was able to induce a pop up to second for out number two, but a walk ran the bases full. N.C. A&T's Grant Tilley then doubled down the left field line as two scored on the play.

NOTES
- This is the second year in a row Elon has dropped a game at War Memorial Stadium on a walk-off hit. Elon built an early 5-0 lead back on March 4 last season, but N.C. A&T rallied for a 9-8 final. In that game, the Aggies loaded the bases in the ninth trailing 8-7. The Phoenix then walked the next two batters.
- It was the second multi-home run game for Elon. Havens and Luke Coker collected four-baggers in a 14-6 loss to UNC Greensboro last Sunday, March 7.
- The game marked the first career start for Savino.
- It was the second game in a row that Havens homered. He now has four on the season to lead the team. The effort raised his season batting average from .278 to .318. 
 
UP NEXT
The teams will meet again tomorrow, March 13 for another game at War Memorial Stadium. First pitch for the second game of the series is set for 2 p.m.