Game 1

Game 2

PETERSBURG, Va. – Alex Di Dio hurled a one-run shutout for Saint Augustine's College in a 9-0 victory over Virginia State University in the second game of a CIAA baseball doubleheader on Saturday, March 31, 2012, at Cobert Field.  The victory gave the Falcons a split after losing the first game 13-7.

Di Dio recorded seven strikeouts and two walks in seven complete innings for the win. His teammates helped him by scoring nine runs on nine hits.

The Falcons took a 2-0 lead in the second inning on a two-run double by Pat Hall (Jr./Virginia Beach, Va.) down the left field line. They added seven runs in the sixth inning to put away the Trojans. The Falcons (13-25, 6-5 CIAA) scored the first run of the inning on an error which allowed Alex Howard (Sr./Wilson, N.C.) to cross home plate after leading off with a double. Sterling James (Fr./New Castle, Del.) and Alex Polanco (Jr./Harlem, N.Y.) both hit RBI singles, and Joshua Easter (Soph./Chicago, Ill.) scored when Anthony Holloway (Sr./New Bern, N.C.) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Polanco scored when the Trojans (16-13, 8-5 CIAA) walked Howard, the first batter in the inning. Another Trojans' error scored Holloway and Daveed Todd (Jr./Chicago, Ill.).

That was more than enough runs for Di Dio, who pitched the second one-hitter in three days for the Falcons.  Alex Edwards (Soph./Chicago, Ill.) threw a one-hitter in a 7-0 win over Shaw on March 28.

The trio of Hall, Howard and James provided most of the offense. Hall was 1-for-4 with four RBI and a double, Howard was 2-for-3 with one RBI and a double and James was 2-for-3 with one RBI.

The win took the sting away from the opening game loss. The Falcons appear headed for an easy win after leading 6-0 in the third inning, but the Trojans came back to win going away.

Wayne Lewis (Sr./Charlotte, N.C.) and Todd both led the Falcons offensively in the first game. Both were 2-for-4 at the plate with two RBI apiece. Howard was 2-for-4 with one RBI and a double and Calvin Butcher (Soph./New Castle, Del.) was 2-for-3 with three runs scored.

Butcher scored the game's first run on an error and Todd smacked an RBI single for a 2-0 Falcons' lead in the first inning. The Falcons scored four runs in the third inning to extend their lead. Polanco and Todd each singled in a run and Howard hit an RBI double. An RBI single by Jeremy Wilkins (Jr./Smithfield, N.C.) made the score 6-0 Falcons. The lead disappeared when the Trojans scored seven runs in the same inning.

The Falcons tied the score 7-7 in the fourth inning when Butcher scored on an error for the second time. The Trojans regained the lead 8-7 in the same inning and added five runs in the sixth inning to clinch the win.
Both teams meet again Sunday for a nine-inning single game at 1 p.m.