ELON, N.C. (Interstat) — In a wild, back-and-forth affair defined by early offense and critical late-inning relief, the Elon Phoenix outlasted the North Carolina A&T Aggies 11-8 on Sunday afternoon at Walter C. Latham Park to claim the weekend series.

The game, a nonconference matchup organized by the Colonial Athletic Association, defied pregame projections that heavily favored a low-scoring Elon victory. Instead, the two teams combined for 26 hits and 19 runs, with the Phoenix overcoming an early six-run deficit to improve to 8-7 overall. The Aggies fell to 3-12.

North Carolina A&T ambushed Elon starter Cole Hansen in the first inning, sending nine batters to the plate and scoring four runs on five hits. Nick DiCarlo led off with a single, and after a Reginald Tugglelll infield hit, Bruce Wyche delivered a two-run double to left field. Jason Campo later added an RBI single to cap the rally, staking the Aggies to a 4-0 lead before Elon recorded an out.

Elon responded with an unearned run in the bottom of the first on an RBI single by Jose Mariano, but the Aggies’ offense continued to press. The game’s complexion shifted dramatically in the bottom of the third inning, when the Phoenix sent 11 men to bat and scored five runs, all with two outs, to tie the game. The inning was prolonged by a costly throwing error from Aggies third baseman Reginald Tugglelll, which allowed Henry Akopov to score. Jared Hall, Kevin Denty and Jake Hajdu followed with run-scoring hits, with Hajdu’s two-run single knotting the score at 6-6. The Aggies escaped further damage by turning a double play to end the frame.

Elon seized control for good in the fourth. With two on and one out, Mariano singled home Jackson Alford to give the Phoenix its first lead at 7-6. Gavin Bogdanchik then ripped a two-run double down the left field line, extending the advantage to 9-6.

North Carolina A&T chipped away. Luis Acevedo led off the fifth with a solo home run to left field, and Wyche added an RBI single later in the inning, cutting the deficit to 9-8. Elon answered in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI infield single from Hall, making it 10-8.

The most critical sequence came in the seventh inning. The Aggies, having scored a run to pull within 10-8 and loading the bases with one out, were poised to tie or take the lead. Elon reliever Sam Nomura entered and limited the damage, inducing a two-run single from Savoi Edwards but stranding two runners. More importantly, Nomura struck out Jason Campo to end the threat, preserving a two-run lead.

Elon added a crucial insurance run in the bottom of the seventh on a Brian DuRoff RBI single, pushing the lead to 11-8. The Phoenix bullpen then slammed the door. Nomura worked 1 1/3 scoreless innings, and closer RJ Latkowski struck out three in a scoreless ninth, stranding the potential tying runs on base to secure the win.

Wyche led the Aggies’ 14-hit attack, going 3 for 4 with three RBIs. DiCarlo added three hits and an RBI, while Acevedo homered. For Elon, which finished with 12 hits, Mariano was 3 for 5 with two RBIs, and Bogdanchik drove in two runs.

Elon starter Cole Hansen earned the win despite allowing eight runs on eight hits over five innings. Aggies reliever Agyei Quinichett took the loss. Jason Johnson provided two innings of scoreless, hitless relief for North Carolina A&T.

The Phoenix next travel to face North Carolina State on Tuesday. The Aggies host UNC Greensboro on Wednesday.