Elon, N.C.- Elon starter Nolan Straniero went the distance on Saturday afternoon and completed a full nine innings in Elon's 2-1 over North Carolina A&T. The Phoenix (18-24, 8-9 CAA) needed just three hits to take the victory over the Aggies (14-27, 8-9 CAA) as Tank Yaghoubi singled twice and scored the game-winning run.
 
Straniero became the first Phoenix since 2021 to throw a nine-inning shutout in CAA play. Straniero struck out seven batters in the win and pitched the best game of his collegiate career. Straniero became the third Elon starter this season with a complete game, but the first to go the full nine innings.
 
How It Happened

• For the second time in the series, the Aggies struck first in the second inning. The one-run blip became apparent when runs became difficult to come by.
• Both pitchers settled in almost immediately with Nolan Straniero finding a groove beginning in the third inning.
• After a 1-2-3 top of the fifth, the Phoenix offense got a spark from Tank Yaghoubi. Following a Vince Fattore walk, the Aggie hurler helped Fattore move around the bases after a walk and a wild pitch moved Fattore to third. Yaghoubi delivered with a two-out single up the middle to bring in Fattore and tie the score.
• Straniero continued to roll in the sixth and seventh while the Aggie starter was equal to him.
• In the eighth inning, Yaghoubi singled again for the second hit of day for the Phoenix and the center fielder. Jake Hajdu delivered the game-winning double on the first pitch he saw in the eighth inning which scored Yaghoubi from first and gave the Phoenix a one-run lead.
• Straniero came out for the ninth inning and immediately got a strikeout. After the first Aggie hit in five innings, Straniero got back-to-back groundouts to end the ballgame and ensure a 2-1 win for the Phoenix.

 
Notes and Stats

• Elon improves to 18-24 on the season and 8-9 in CAA play.
• Tank Yaghoubi put together a multi-hit game for the 12^th time this season. His two hits made up for 2/3 of the Phoenix hits in the win.
• Jake Hajdu collected an RBI double for the third time in his last four CAA games.
• Nolan Straniero threw his first career complete game at the Division I level. Straniero also exceeded seven innings pitched for the first time in his collegiate career. Straniero becomes the first Phoenix since Brian Edgington in 2021 to deliver a full nine inning performance on the mound.
• With his complete game, Straniero becomes the third Elon starter this season to deliver a complete game. All of the complete games for the Elon starters have come in conference games.
• The three Phoenix hits are the lowest in a win since Elon also had three hits in a 1-0 win over Northeastern in 2022. The win over A&T marks just the third time in the last 11 seasons that the Phoenix won a game while having three hits or less. Besides the Northeastern win, the Phoenix defeated Cincinnati, 3-1 in 2014 while collecting only three hits. 

 
Up Next
The Phoenix returns to Latham Park tomorrow for game three against the Aggies. First pitch with A&T will be at 1 P.M.