RALEIGH – Elon pitching stifled No. 10 NC State from the outset Tuesday as the Phoenix limited one of the nation's top offenses to four hits in a 2-0 road victory at Doak Field at Dail Park.

Sophomore Owen Winebarger turned in his best outing as a Phoenix, setting career highs with 6.1 innings and 95 pitches while earning the win. Elon's bullpen handled the final 2.2 innings, with RJ Latkowski recording his fifth save of the season.

At the plate, Jackson Alford continued his strong start atop the Elon lineup, collecting two hits and stealing three bases. Brian DuRoff accounted for both Phoenix runs with a sacrifice fly in the first inning and an RBI single in the third.

The Phoenix improved to 9-7 overall, while NC State dropped to 14-3.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• In the top of the first inning, Elon took an early lead. Jackson Alford drew a leadoff walk, advanced on a wild pitch, stole third and scored on a Brian DuRoff sacrifice fly.
• Owen Winebarger settled in immediately, retiring NC State in order in the first inning.
• Elon extended its lead in the third when DuRoff delivered a two-out RBI single to make it 2-0.
• Winebarger kept the Wolfpack off balance into the seventh inning, allowing only limited traffic on the bases.
• After Winebarger ran into trouble in the seventh, Kehler Hamilton entered and induced a double play to end the threat.
• Tommy Mitchell pitched a scoreless eighth inning, retiring the side in order with a strikeout.
• RJ Latkowski closed out the game with a hitless ninth inning to secure the victory.

 QUICK HITS

• With the win over No. 10 NC State, Elon earned its fourth victory over a top-10 opponent in the past four seasons. The Phoenix defeated Wake Forest in 2023 and 2024 and No. 9 Campbell in 2023.
• Elon defeated NC State in Raleigh for the second straight meeting. The Phoenix had not recorded back-to-back road wins over the Wolfpack since the 2009-10 seasons.
• The victory marks Elon's first road win over a top-10 opponent since 2010, when the Phoenix defeated Clemson 4-3 in extra innings.
• Owen Winebarger pitched a career-high 6.1 innings and threw a career-high 95 pitches. He allowed five baserunners and struck out four.
• Jackson Alford extended his hitting streak to seven games. He recorded his team-leading sixth multi-hit game of the season and stole three bases — his fifth game this year with multiple steals. His 18 stolen bases rank among the national leaders.
• RJ Latkowski earned his fifth save of the season. His four saves match Ben Simon's team-leading total from 2023.

UP NEXT
Elon returns to CAA play this weekend with a three-game series at UNCW. The action gets underway at Brooks Field in Wilmington, North Carolina, at 6 p.m. ET Friday.
 
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