PETERSBURG, Va. - Saint Augustine's College scored three runs in the seventh inning to break open a tie game, and Chris Vette (Jr./Hampton, Va.) protected a late lead for a 5-4 victory over No. 4 seed Elizabeth City State University Thursday in the opening round of the CIAA Baseball Championships held at Colbert Field on the Virginia State University campus.

The Falcons (33-19 overall) will tangle with No. 2 seed Chowan University Friday at 11 a.m. in the winner's semifinal bracket at VSU. Chowan defeated No. 3 seed Virginia State 7-3 in the other first-round game Thursday. The Falcons-Hawks winner will advance to Saturday's finals in the double-elimination tournament which starts at 1 p.m.

The Falcons led 5-2 in the seventh inning on an RBI triple by Wayne Lewis (Jr./Charlotte, N.C.), a sacrifice fly by Joe Pierce (Jr./Wetumpka, Ala.) and an RBI single by Kevin Johnson (Sr./Seattle, Wash.). Vette relieved starting pitcher Ryan Wood after Kyle Meads' two-run double pulled the Vikings within 5-4 with no outs in the ninth inning. The Vikings grounded out, struck out and flied out to end the game.

Lewis went 3-for-5 with two RBIs and Johnson was 2-for-3 with an RBI to lead the Falcons. Meads was 1-for-4 with two RBIs for the Vikings, who later lost to VSU 5-1 to end their season at 17-17.

Wood scattered five hits and recorded eight strikeouts and five walks in eight innings for the win. Vette pitched one inning for the save. Styron Barfield allowed 10 hits and struck out seven batters in eight innings for the loss.