Game 1 Boxscore
Game 2 Boxscore
CARY, N.C. - NCAA steals leader Rashad Ingram (Savannah, Ga.) was 7-for-7 on stolen base attempts in two games including a steal which helped Saint Augustine's College stage a last-inning comeback for a 5-4 victory over Claflin Wednesday. He also helped the Falcons take a 6-2 win in the second game at USA Baseball Complex.
The Falcons, who have won seven consecutive games, combined for 16 steals in two contests against Claflin. They entered the non-conference baseball doubleheader leading the nation in steals. In 39 contests, the Falcons have 152 steals on 179 attempts.
The Falcons, who are the defending CIAA champions, have three players ranked among the top 10 in Division II for steals including steals leader Ingram. Wayne Lewis (Charlotte, N.C.) is fourth with 30 steals and Joe Pierce (Wetumpka, Ala.) is seventh with 28 steals.
Their base running has keyed the Falcons to a 26-13 overall record and league-leading 16-2 CIAA mark. The Falcons stole six bases in the first game including four by Ingram, whose steal to second base in the seventh inning set up Joe Pierce's (Wetumpka, Ala.) game-winning RBI single. Ingram was one off his season-high of five steals against Benedict on March 17.
The hit capped a three-run rally by the Falcons, who trailed 4-2 entering the bottom of the seventh. Kevin White (Dunn, N.C.) was hit by a pitch to start the inning and advanced to second on an error. He reached third on Mike Wallace's (Powhatan, Va.) single and scored on a wild pitch which sent Wallace to second. Alex Howard (Wilson, N.C.) bunted Wallace to third and Wallace scored on a passed ball.
Ingram reached first base on a walk and stole second. Pierce's single sent Ingram home for the victory.
Alex Edwards (Chicago, Ill.) pitched seven full innings for the win. He scattered six hits, struck out five and walked two. Ingram led the Falcons in hitting, going 2-for-3 with two runs scored and one RBI. White scored two runs for the Falcons.
The Falcons stole 10 bases in the second game including four by Pierce and three by Ingram. The Falcons needed steals to generate runs since both teams each had four hits. Lewis had two RBIs while Pierce and Anthony Holloway (New Bern, N.C.) each had one RBI. Ingram and Pierce scored two runs apiece for the Falcons.
Stephen Hamilton (Chicago, Ill.) recorded seven strikeouts and three walks in hurling a complete-game four-hitter for the Falcons, who led the entire contest. They scored two runs in the fifth and one run in the sixth to turn a slim 3-2 lead into a four-run victory. With the wins, the Falcons gained revenge for a 12-7 loss to Claflin in a nine-inning game on March 16. Claflin's record is now 11-12.
The Falcons are back on the field Thursday against cross-town rival Shaw at Lions Park. The first game starts at 1 p.m. The Falcons swept the Bears 10-1 and 11-0 on March 1 in Cary, N.C.
