GREENSBORO, N.C. (Interstat) — The Elon Phoenix broke open a tight game with a six-run ninth inning to defeat the North Carolina A&T Aggies 11-3 in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday.

Elon improved to 13-18 overall, while North Carolina A&T fell to 9-21.

The game was closer than the final score indicated for eight innings, with Elon holding a 5-3 lead entering the final frame. The Phoenix sent 11 batters to the plate in the ninth, capitalizing on aggressive baserunning and Aggies miscues to pull away.

The decisive inning began with two quick outs before Elon’s Alex Denty was hit by a pitch. After a single by Connor Hajdu put runners on the corners, a wild pitch allowed pinch-runner Arman Akopov to score. Hajdu then scored on a throwing error by Aggies catcher Luis Gomez following a stolen base. After a walk and another stolen base, Elon’s Cole Hindle delivered the final blow, a two-run single to left center that scored two more.

Hindle finished the day 4 for 5 with four RBIs. Ryan DuRoff added three hits and three RBIs for the Phoenix, who totaled 10 hits but leveraged 10 walks and three hit batters.

North Carolina A&T matched Elon with 10 hits but stranded multiple runners. The Aggies scored single runs in the third, fifth and sixth innings to keep pace early. Boaz Harper led the Aggies offense, going 3 for 4 with two runs scored. JT Taylor drove in a run with a sixth-inning single.

Elon starter Joe Winebarger earned the win, pitching seven innings and allowing three runs, two earned, on nine hits. Reliever Michael Staiano threw two scoreless innings to close it out.

The loss went to Aggies reliever Diego Barrett, who was charged with three runs in 1 1/3 innings of work after taking over for starter Jordan Bright. Bright allowed three runs on five hits over 4 2/3 innings.

The most important sequence of the game occurred in the top of the sixth inning, with Elon clinging to a 4-2 lead. The Phoenix loaded the bases with one out via two walks and a hit batter. Hindle’s sacrifice fly made it 5-2, and DuRoff followed with a crucial two-run single through the right side, extending the lead to 7-2 and providing critical breathing room that the Aggies could not overcome.

The teams were scheduled to conclude the doubleheader later Saturday.