ELON – Jackson Alford set an Elon Division I single-game record for stolen bases in an 8-3 win over North Carolina A&T. The Phoenix grabbed their first CAA win of the season behind smart base-running and steady pitching from Aidan Stieglitz and Mike Staiano.
 
Alford set the mark for single-game stolen bases with five on Saturday. The senior reached base three times and extended his hitting streak to five games. Connor Roche had a bounce back game with two doubles and an RBI in the win.
 
After a shaky first inning, freshman Aidan Stieglitz settled in and delivered five innings of three-run ball. Mike Staiano closed out the final four innings and allowed just three base runners in his first career save.
 
The Phoenix improves to 7-7 while North Carolina A&T falls to 3-11. Both teams are 1-1 in CAA play.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• For the second straight game, A&T struck early. The Aggies plated three runs in the first frame to grab the advantage.
• The Phoenix would respond quickly in the 2^nd inning with a Roche sacrifice fly and a Jared Hall single to bring in two runs.
• After Stieglitz continued to settle in, Elon squared the score in the 4^th following doubles from Roche and Hall.
• Elon grabbed the lead in the 5^th after two unearned runs came around to score on a Charlie Evans fielder's choice.
• The Phoenix expanded their lead in the 7^th, following a Brian DuRoff single. The Elon baserunning took advantage of Aggie pitching and scored two runs on a pair of wild pitches.
• In the 8^th and 9^th, Mike Staiano continued to deal and shut down the Aggie offense to secure the 8-3 win.

QUICK HITS

• Elon improves to 7-7 on the season.
• Elon claimed their first CAA win in their second conference game for the second straight season.
• Aidan Stieglitz earned his third win of the season. After allowing three runs in the first, the freshman settled in and allowed just three hits over his final four innings of work.
• Mike Staiano put together a four-inning save on Saturday. Staiano struck out five and allowed just two infield singles.
• Jackson Alford set the Elon single-game stolen base mark on Saturday. Despite reaching just three times, Alford swiped a pair of bags on multiple instances. The last time an Elon base runner stole four bases was in 2019 when Tyler Stanley stole four against Wagner.
• Connor Roche added two doubles, an RBI and a run scored in the win.
• Jared Hall finished with a multi-hit and multi-RBI afternoon. Hall doubled and stole a base.
• Brian DuRoff scored twice and drove in a run in the win.
• Elon swiped seven bags as a team on Saturday. It is the most in a game by the Phoenix since Elon stole seven bases against Old Dominion in 2011.

 
 
UP NEXT
Elon returns to Latham Park Sunday afternoon for three of the series with A&T. First pitch between the Phoenix and Aggies will now be at 12 PM.
 
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