Elon, N.C.- After falling behind by nine runs with nine outs to play, the Elon Phoenix (29-20, 16-9 CAA) made a valiant effort to try and take game two from the North Carolina A&T Aggies (19-27, 11-16 CAA). The Phoenix would score nine runs in the final three frames, but it was not enough as the Aggies took game two of the weekend series, 11-9.
 
Justin Cassella continues to have a phenomenal ladder half of conference season, as the junior launched another home run. Cassella also becomes just the second player, joining Tanner Holliman, since 2009 to club double-digit home runs and swiping ten bags in a season after a stolen base on Saturday.
 
Five Phoenix batters claimed multiple hits, while four finished with multiple RBI. Parker Haskin finished the game 2-for-3 with a run scored and a two RBI single in just five innings of play.
 
How It Happened
 

• The Aggies would jump on the Phoenix from the word go with a run in the top of the first inning following a leadoff single then an RBI double from Cort Maynard.
• A&T would add to their lead in the top of the second inning when leadoff batter Shemar Dalton would hit a three-run home run off Justin Mitrovich to extend the lead to four. Dalton finished the day 4-for-5 with three RBI and three runs scored.
• Another run would follow for the Aggies in both the third and fourth innings following a sacrifice fly from Canyon Brown in the third and a solo home run from TJ Ash in the fourth to give the Aggies a 6-0 lead.
• Spencer Bauer would step into the game out of the bullpen and retire the Aggies in both the fifth and sixth innings with no runs scored to keep the Aggie lead at six.
• A&T would increase their lead to nine following three runs in the seventh frame. A two RBI single and a sacrifice fly would increase the A&T lead to nine.
• The Phoenix offense would get going following two straight walks from Xavier Meachem. Meachem had kept the Phoenix quiet all afternoon, but Elon began to chip away following his exit. Charlie Granatell would begin the rally with an RBI hit-by-pitch. Cole Reynolds would follow that up with an RBI single and not to be outdone Parker Haskin would deliver a two-RBI single one batter later. Elon would bring across one more run following a Justin Cassella double down the left field line to get back to within four runs.
• Following an A&T answer, the Phoenix would continue to chip away using patience at the plate. Two walks and a James Broderick single would load the bases again for Ryan Sprock. Sprock would launch a double off the right field wall, just a few feet shy of a grand slam, but would score two runs on the extra-base hit. Cole Reynolds would bring home another run on an RBI groundout to bring A&T's lead to just two.
• A run in the ninth of Liam Dabagian would give the Aggies more cushion, but that run was whipped off the board when Justin Cassella launched his 14^th home run of the season over the new video board at Latham Park. Back-to-back singles from Tanner Holliman and Connor Offshack would bring the winning run to the plate, but a fielder's choice and a double play would end the ballgame as the Aggies would leave Latham Park victorious by the score of 11-9.

 
Notes and Stats
 

• The Phoenix bats have been hot ever since their trip to the Naval Academy. For the first time since 2018, the Elon batters have collected double-digit hits in five straight games with 14 hits in back-to-back games against the Aggies.
• Justin Cassella continues to swing a bat that is made of fire against the Aggies. So far in the two-game set, Cassella is batting 7-for-10 with two homers, two doubles, six RBI, and two stolen bases. Cassella is now the first player in the CAA this season to have double-digit home runs in conference play.
• Parker Haskin provided a spark off the bench for the Phoenix after relieving Luke Stephenson behind the plate in the fifth inning. Haskin would finish 2-for-3 with a double and a two-RBI single.
• Ryan Sprock also finished the day with multiple hits including his sixth double of the season that would prove to be instrumental during the Phoenix comeback attempt.
• Charlie Granatell continues to have a fine series against the Aggies in the leadoff role. Granatell finished his day 2-for-3, reaching base four times and scoring two runs.
• Tanner Holliman finished his day 2-for-5 collecting two singles on the afternoon.

 
Up Next
 

• Tomorrow's Senior Day game will begin at 1:00 p.m. The Senior Day presentation will begin at 12:45 p.m. as Elon will recognize nine seniors who have left an impact on the baseball program. Following Sunday's game, Elon will travel to Hofstra to take on the Pride in the Phoenix' final CAA weekend series of the year.