Greensboro, N.C.- For the second straight midweek game, the Elon Phoenix (6-6) jumped out to an early lead, but this time the Phoenix would hold firm. Elon took care of business away from Latham Park against the UNCG Spartans (5-7) Wednesday night at UNCG Baseball Stadium, defeating the Spartans 12-2.
 
The top of the Phoenix lineup delivered in a major way, with the top four batters in the lineup, putting together multi-hit performances in the victory. Alex Duffey tied a career high as he drove in four runs against UNCG with two, two-RBI singles. Ryan Sprock fell a triple short of the cycle in the first four innings and began the night with a no-doubt home run that got the Phoenix out in front.
 
Nolan Straniero had his best start of the season against the Spartans Wednesday. Straniero threw six innings and allowed just one run on three hits and struck out six in his first win of the season. Sam Nomura made his first appearance of the season and struck out a pair of Spartans in the win.
 
 
How It Happened

• Elon jumped out on the Spartans early with three runs in the first inning. With two outs, Ryan Sprock got into a hitter's count and launched a pitch over the left field wall to give the Phoenix a 1-0 lead. Elon added two more runs in the inning after a single back up the middle from Vince Fattore scored Will Vergantino and Alex Duffey.
• The Phoenix added more in the second inning with three straight singles from Kenny Mallory Jr., Sprock and Duffey to bring home two more runs and give Elon a 5-0 lead.
• Nolan Straniero rolled on the mound in the first few frames with the Phoenix hurler putting away seven straight Spartans in the first three innings.
• Elon continued to pile on the runs in the fourth inning. Another RBI single from Alex Duffey brought in two more runs before a two-RBI double from Charlie Granatell down the left-field line scored two more runs. The four runs in the inning gave the Phoenix a 9-0 advantage.
• UNCG brought a run in, in the bottom of the fourth inning to make the score 9-1.
• The pitchers for UNCG began to settle in after the fourth inning while Straniero continued to deal into the seventh inning.
• Itai Spinoza was the first to relieve Straniero and forced a tailor-made double play to get out of a jam in the seventh.
• The Spartans added an unearned run in the bottom of the eight to decrease the deficit to 9-2 headed into the ninth.
• Elon got the two UNCG runs back and then some in the top of the ninth following three straight hits to begin the inning. A single from Nathan Wingenroth and a double from Alec Welshans put two runners on for Tank Yaghoubi who drove both in with a double in the left-center gap. Yaghoubi advanced to third on an error on the double and was drove in by Jackson Alford on a sacrifice fly to give Elon their biggest lead of the night.
• Carson Wehner would close the door on the Spartans with a clean ninth inning and secured Elon's fourth straight win.

 
Notes and Stats

• The Phoenix improves to 6-6 on the season with their fourth straight victory.
• Elon has reached a .500 record for the first time this season following the victory over UNCG on Wednesday night.
• Ryan Sprock led the way for the Phoenix with a three-hit night and scored a team high three runs in the win. Sprock hit his first home run of the season and with a trio of hits, increased his season average to .341.
• Alex Duffey tied his Elon career high with four RBIs in the win. Duffey singled home four runs and reached base three times in the victory
• Kenny Mallory Jr. and Jackson Alford both had multi-hit nights with each player singling twice in the win.
• Jackson Alford and Tank Yaghoubi both stole a base in the win.
• Charlie Granatell notched his first extra-base hit of the season with a fourth inning double. Granatell drove in two runs on the hit and reached base three times.
• Vince Fattore and Yaghoubi both drove in two runs each with one swing in the win over UNCG.
• Nolan Straniero had his best start of the 2025 campaign. Straniero went six innings and allowed just one run on three hits. He struck out six Spartans and walked only one on 89 pitches Wednesday night.
• Itai Spinoza, Sam Nomura and Carson Wehner all pitched one inning in relief. Nomura and Wehner both struck out two batters in their innings of work.
• The Phoenix claimed their first road win of the season Wednesday night after losing four games to SEC and ACC foes.

 
Up Next
The Phoenix returns home for a three-game weekend series against the Charleston Southern Buccaneers. First pitch on Friday will be at 4 P.M. from Latham Park.