Baseball Southern Conference

Elon Blanks North Carolina A&T

BURLINGTON, N.C. -- The Elon Phoenix baseball program defeated North Carolina A&T by a 10-0 score Thursday night at Burlington Athletic Stadium. With the victory, Elon improved to 20-22 on the season while the Aggies fell to 19-25. It was the second shutout of the season for Elon who earlier blanked Davidson by the same score.

Elon, who improved to 2-1 at B.A.S. this season, got the scoring started in the first inning, plating three runs. Gary Morris led off the game with an infield single and advanced to second when Evan Tartaglia reached on an error. Chris Price then launched a homer to right center that landed on the roof of the nearby community center. After a flyout, the Phoenix loaded the bases with two walks and a Drew Davis single. Paul Bennett, the ninth batter of the inning, almost made the score 7-0, but his blast to left was hauled in by Aggie leftfielder Duron LeGrande made a catch at the wall.

After Morris was hit by a pitch to start the second inning, Tartaglia singled to left and advanced to second on the throw into the infield. A sacrifice fly from Price drove in Morris with fourth Elon run of the night.

The Aggies tried to get something going in the third inning, using a leadoff single from Eugene Bennett and an Elon error to put two runners on with no outs. A grounder to short looked to get one out at second and put runners on the corner, but an interference call was made, granting the Phoenix a double play and leaving only one runner at second. The next hitter then grounded out to end any Aggie threat.

With one out in the fourth inning, Grant Rembert reached on an infield error. A stolen base and wild pitch moved Rembert to third. Tyler Stevens promptly singled through the left side to plate Rembert, increasing Elon's lead to 5-0.

The Phoenix put up a three spot in the sixth inning, using two walks and two singles to do some damage. Price picked up his fifth RBI of the night when he reached on a fielder's choice.

The Phoenix tacked on two more in the fifth when Rembert blasted a shot that hit off the top of the leftcenter field wall that scored both Tartaglia, who reached on his league-leading seventh triple of the year, and Price.

Elon's Matt Garner threw a gem, going 6.0 innings while allowing three hits and one walk. Garner also fanned seven on the night while upping his record to 4-5 on the season.

Taking the loss for North Carolina A&T was Eric Neal (2-2) who gave up four runs (three earned) on four hits in 2.2 innings of work. Neal walked five and struckout one.

Up next for Elon will be a Tuesday date with Coastal Carolina at Latham Park. The game is set for a 3:00 p.m. start time. The Aggies will host MEAC foe Norfolk State in a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 1:00 p.m.