GREENSBORO, N.C. (Interstat) — North Carolina A&T capitalized on a rash of early Elon miscues and then withstood a late rally to edge the Phoenix 6-5 on Saturday in the first game of a doubleheader.

The Aggies improved to 9-21 overall, while Elon fell to 13-18. The win provided a measure of redemption for North Carolina A&T after dropping a 10-3 decision to the Phoenix just a day earlier.

The most critical sequence of the game unfolded in the bottom of the first and third innings, where the Aggies built their winning margin entirely without the benefit of a cleanly earned run. Elon starter Tommy Mitchell did not allow a hit over his 4 2/3 innings of work but was undone by defensive lapses behind him.

In the first, Marcus Bradshaw reached on a throwing error by Elon third baseman Brent Smith. Andrew Tinsley followed with an RBI single, and after another error by Smith, JT Taylor’s fielder’s choice brought home a second unearned run for a 2-0 Aggies lead.

Elon’s Jared Hall cut the deficit in half with a solo home run to deep right field in the top of the second, but the Aggies responded with a three-run third, again fueled by Phoenix mistakes. With two on, a fielding error by first baseman Jose Mariano allowed Tyler Smith to score. Boaz Harper then drove in another run with a groundout, and a balk by Mitchell allowed the third run of the inning to cross, making it 5-1.

North Carolina A&T starter Aiden Hansen was the stabilizing force, earning the win with five strong innings. He allowed just three hits and one earned run — the Hall homer — while striking out one. His performance provided crucial innings for an Aggies bullpen that would later be tested.

The Aggies added what proved to be the decisive run in the fifth. Smith walked, advanced to third on a single by Bruce Wyche, and scored on another fielder’s choice by Taylor for a 6-1 lead.

Elon’s bullpen trio of Kehler Hamilton, Cole Taylor and RJ Latkowski then combined for 3 1/3 perfect innings of relief, striking out four, to keep the Phoenix within striking distance.

The Phoenix mounted a serious threat in the eighth against Aggies reliever Kobie Cushing. Trailing 6-2, Elon loaded the bases with one out. Pinch-hitter Connor Roche was hit by a pitch to force in a run, and after a strikeout, pinch-hitter Charlie Evans delivered a two-out RBI single. Jake Hajdu followed with another RBI single, scoring Roche, who had reached on an error by shortstop Taylor. The rally pulled Elon within a single run at 6-5 and brought the potential go-ahead run to second base, but Jackson Alford struck out swinging to end the inning.

Agyei Quinichett took over for the ninth for North Carolina A&T and retired the side in order, striking out Hall looking to end the game and secure the save.

Hall finished 2 for 4 with a home run, an RBI and two runs scored for Elon. Wyche led the Aggies’ eight-hit attack, going 2 for 3 with a double and a run scored.

The loss came despite Interstat’s ELO system giving Elon a 63.5 percent probability to win. The teams were set to conclude their doubleheader shortly after the opener.