Box Score
Boxscore


HARTSVILLE, S.C. – Saint Augustine's University nearly pulled off a road win against Coker College, but the Cobras scored in the ninth inning to break a tie and edge the Falcons 10-9 in a non-conference baseball game at Tom J. New Field.

The Falcons trailed 9-7 entering the top of the ninth inning, but Clarence Peace (Jr./Creedmoor, N.C.) evened the score at 9-9 with a two-run double down the left field line. He scored Darren Burks (Jr./Springdale, Ill.) and Bobby Delly (Fr./Sumter, S.C.). The Cobras scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth on a sacrifice fly.

The loss put the Falcons at 2-2 overall. Their ninth-inning comeback was the latest of several rallies for the visitors after falling behind early. The Falcons' biggest rally was in the third inning when they scored four runs to erase a 5-1 deficit and tie the game at 5-5. The big plays for the Falcons that inning was a two-RBI double by Jeremy Wilkins (Sr./Smithfield, N.C.) which scored William Thomas (Fr./Yorktown, Va.) and Pat Hall (Sr./Virginia Beach, Va.), an RBI sacrifice fly by Ariel Polanco (Sr./Harlem, N.Y.) which scored Jamie Scott (Jr./Hampton, Va.) and a RBI double by Peace which scored Wilkins.

After Coker regained the lead at 7-5 in the fourth, the Falcons scored one run in the fifth and sixth inning to tie the game again. The Cobras (5-1 overall) inched ahead 9-7 with a run in the sixth and seventh inning before the Falcons made their final push.

The Falcons lost despite outhitting the Cobras (12-6) and committing fewer errors (3-6). It was a case of missed opportunities for the Falcons, though, as they stranded more men on base (9) than the Cobras (7).

Peace and Wilkins both stood out offensively for the Falcons. Peace was 4-for-5 at the plate with three RBIs including three doubles. Wilkins was 3-for-5 with three RBIs including two doubles. He drove in Thomas with a one-run double in the fifth inning.

Polanco drove in two runs and Thomas scored two runs while batting 2-for-4. Polanco gave the Falcons a 1-0 lead in the first inning when he tripled to right field and scored on a throwing error by the catcher. Jason Baytop (Fr./Laurel, Md.) scored a run for the Falcons when he singled and later scored on an error in the sixth.

Clarence Ganus (Sr./Whiteville, N.C.) took the loss in relief despite allowing only two hits in 4.2 innings of work. Desmond Cheek (Fr./Asheboro, N.C.) was the starting pitcher for the Falcons.

The Falcons host their first home series of the season this weekend at USA Baseball Complex in Cary, N.C. They face East Stroudsburg University in a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2012 starting at 1 p.m. Both teams return to USA Baseball Complex on Sunday, Feb. 10, for a nine-inning game beginning at 1 p.m.