GREENSBORO, N.C. (Interstat) — The Elon Phoenix erupted for six runs in the first inning and never looked back, cruising to a 10-3 victory over the North Carolina A&T Aggies in Colonial Athletic Association baseball action Friday night at World War Memorial Stadium.

The game’s outcome was effectively decided in the opening frame, as Elon sent 10 batters to the plate against North Carolina A&T starter Braxton Davis. Leadoff hitter Alford set the tone with a single, and Jared Hall followed with another. Brian DuRoff then ripped a double down the left field line to score the first run. A groundout by Hindle and a single through the right side by Jose Mariano each plated another, with Mariano later stealing second and scoring on Bogdanchik’s single to cap the six-run outburst.

Elon starter Brian Strange was the beneficiary of the early offensive explosion. He worked seven strong innings, allowing one run on six hits while striking out five and walking none to earn the win. The lone blemish against him came in the fifth inning, when Gomez doubled, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly by Acevedo.

The Phoenix added to their lead in the fourth when Nathan Sterling doubled home Bogdanchik, who had singled and stolen second. Elon broke the game open with three more runs in the sixth. After Hajdu bunted for a single and Alford was hit by a pitch, Jared Hall delivered a two-run single to right field. Hall later scored on a sacrifice fly by Hindle, an unearned run after he reached on a passed ball following a strikeout.

Jose Mariano provided the exclamation point for Elon in the fifth inning with a solo home run to deep left field. Elon’s offense amassed 12 hits in total, with multi-hit games from DuRoff, Hall, Mariano, Bogdanchik and Hajdu.

North Carolina A&T, which managed eight hits, avoided a shutout with a late rally in the ninth inning against Elon reliever Cade Mustard. After Smith walked and Edwards reached on a fielder’s choice, Aggies shortstop JT Taylor launched a two-run homer to deep left field. Gomez followed with a single, but Mustard induced a strikeout to end the game.

The loss went to Braxton Davis, who lasted just one-third of an inning, surrendering six runs on six hits. Aggies relievers Benny Whiteaker, Grayson King and others combined to allow four runs over the final 8 2/3 innings.

The victory improves Elon’s record to 12-17 overall and marks a strong start to the CAA series. North Carolina A&T falls to 8-20. The two teams are scheduled to continue their three-game series Saturday afternoon.

The most important part of the game was unequivocally the top of the first inning. Elon’s immediate six-run offensive explosion established a commanding lead before North Carolina A&T even recorded an out. This early deficit placed immense pressure on the Aggies’ lineup against a steady Elon starter in Brian Strange and dictated the strategic tone for the remainder of the contest, allowing the Phoenix to play comfortably ahead while the Aggies were forced to chase the game from its opening moments.