Alex DiDio
Alex Di Dio

Baseball Sports Information Office

Di Dio Hurls 14 Strikeouts in 9-1 Win Over Coker


Boxscore


HARTSVILLE, S.C. - Alex Di Dio (Jr./Newport News, Va.) shut down Coker College's bats with a three-hitter including a career-high 14 strikeouts as visiting Saint Augustine's College cruised to a 9-1 non-conference baseball win Thursday (Feb. 2) at Tom J. New Field.

The victory was the first this season for the Falcons (1-2), who defeated the Cobras (0-1) for the first time since 2004. They did it behind the arm of Di Dio, who went the distance in the nine-inning game for the win.

Di Dio struck out nearly half of the 29 batters he faced and walked one. He gave up two of the Cobras' three hits in the first inning when they scored their only run. The Cobras managed only one run the next eight innings.

Di Dio received offensive support from his teammates, who belted out 12 hits for the Falcons. Ariel Polanco (Jr./Harlem, N.Y.) continued his hot start by going 2-for-4 with a home run, triple and two RBIs. He already has six RBIs on the season.

David Nelson (Richton Park, Ill.) was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs and Anthony Holloway (Sr./New Bern, N.C.) was 3-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored. Alex Howard (Sr./Wilson, N.C.) was 2-for-3 with two runs scored.

The Falcons took a quick 2-0 lead in the first inning on Polanco's two-run homer to left center field which also scored Holloway, who reached base on a single. The Cobras scored in the bottom of the inning, and the score stayed 2-1 until the fourth when the Falcons added two more runs. Howard scored on an error, and Nelson drove in Darien Hardaway (Jr./Atlanta, Ga.) with a single for a 4-1 lead.

The Falcons tacked on two more runs in the sixth inning. Howard scored on a passed ball, and Nelson hit a sacrifice fly which scored Ben Hatchell (Soph./Matthews, N.C.) for a 6-1 lead. The Falcons finished strong with three runs in the ninth inning. Nelson scored on an error after doubling to left center field, and Holloway scored Wayne Lewis (Sr./Charlotte, N.C.) with an RBI single. Holloway later scored on Polanco's triple to right center field.

The Falcons are back in action today. They visit Clark Atlanta University for a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. in Atlanta, Ga. This is the third consecutive day of road games for the Falcons.





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