ELON, N.C. – Elon University baseball had the tying run 90 feet away, but No. 29 NC State held on for a 2-1 final on Tuesday, March 15 at Latham Park.

"Tough one tonight," head coach Mike Kennedy said afterwards. "I thought we really pitched it well. Offensively we couldn't get anything going and I thought we abandoned our game plan very early and we paid for it. Made a few mental mistakes that cost us and then had an opportunity there in the ninth and couldn't get a ball in play. Connor Offshack had a good swing there, just hit it in the ground on the double play to end it. Really pleased with our effort and how we battled. We gave ourselves a chance there in the ninth, just didn't get it done."

ON THE MOUND
Starter Ian Evans (0-3) was charged with the loss after allowing two runs on five hits. The redshirt sophomore out of Niagara Falls, N.Y. threw five complete innings, added one strikeout and didn't walk a batter. Ben Simon gave up one hit and a walk with one strikeout in two innings of relief, Kyle Greenler had two punch outs with one hit and two walks in one inning of work, and Shea Sprague also tossed one inning with one strikeout.

AT THE PLATE
Charlie Granatell led Elon at the plate, finishing 2-for-4 with a double. Parker Haskin went 1-for-3 with a walk, Luke Stephenson ended up 1-for-4 and Alex Iadisernia also hit 1-for-4 with a run scored.

THE RUNDOWN
Both of NC State's runs came early as the Wolfpack (10-6) brought in two runs on four hits in the top of the second inning. A pair of bunt singles placed runners on the corners before a Dominic Pilolli sacrifice fly to left plated the first run of the game. Payton Green then singled down the right-field line for the 2-0 lead. Elon had its first real opportunity to answer in the bottom of the fifth. With one out, Justin Cassella walked, stole second and reached third on a Cole Reynolds ground out to second. Unfortunately, the Phoenix (9-6) couldn't capitalize as Carlos Marte went down swinging.

Elon had another runner in scoring position in the sixth as Granatell doubled down the left-field line with one out. State retired the next two batters, though as Granatell was left stranded. After the Phoenix turned a 6-4-3 double play in the top of the seventh, the maroon and gold had another opportunity in the home half of the frame. Stephenson hit a ball off the end of his bat for an infield single. Haskin then walked to put runners on first and second, but Cassella struck out swinging and Haskin was erased at second as Reynolds reached on a fielder's choice. Stephenson reached third on the play, but the Pack recorded the third out to escape the inning.

The Pack looked to add some more insurance in the eighth as a two-out walk and a hit to left center put runners on the corners. Elon elected to load the bases with an intentional walk and Greenler fooled the next batter on a 2-2 pitch to get out of the jam. Iadisernia led off the bottom of the ninth with a single to the gap in left. The visitors looked to turn the double play as Stephenson hit a ground ball to third, but the throw to second sailed into right field and Iadisernia moved up to third on the error. Griffin Arnone entered the game as a pinch runner and took second on a wild pitch, and a second wild pitch allowed Iadisernia to score and Arnone to reach third. Haskin singled to first base, but Cassella went down swinging and Offshack grounded into a 6-3 double play to end the game. 

NOTES
- NC State pushes its lead in the all-time series to 45-13.
- The Pack is now up 10-3 when playing at Latham Park.
- Elon's arms combined for five strikeouts against three walks. Evans, Simon, Greenler and Sprague also threw 86-of-126 (68.3 percent) pitches for strikes.
- Elon was held to a .161 clip (5-for-31) in the game.
- This was the third one-run game the Phoenix has played this season.
- Granatell continued his hit streak, which is now at eight games. Haskin has now hit in five straight games.
- NC State's Tommy White entered the game ranked second in the country in RBIs (32), third in home runs (9) and RBIs per game (2.13), sixth in home runs per game (0.60), 13th in hits (28) and 18th in hits per game (1.87). The freshman from St. Pete Beach, Fla. went 0-for-4 on the day.
- The Pack was ranked 14th nationally in scoring (9.5 runs per game), but were held to just the two runs.

UP NEXT
The Phoenix will host Army for three games this weekend. Friday's series opener is scheduled for a 4 p.m. start and Saturday will begin at 2 p.m. Elon and Army then wrap up the series with a 1 p.m. start on Sunday.