RALEIGH, N.C. – First place is on the line when Saint Augustine's University and Winston-Salem State University square off in a pivotal three-game baseball series this weekend at Optimist Park. Admission is free for spectators for all three games.

The series starts with a doubleheader on Saturday, March 30, with the first game at 1 p.m. The teams meet again Sunday, March 31, in a single nine-inning game at 3 p.m. Optimist Park is located on 5900 Whittier Drive. If coming from downtown, take Six Forks Road and turn left on Northclift Drive. The ballpark will be on the left.

The Falcons (22-10 overall) are flying high atop the CIAA standings at 9-0, and the Rams (23-8) are one game behind at 8-1. This series can give either team the upper hand in the race for the regular season crown and the top seed in the CIAA Baseball Championships, which will be held April 18-20 in Petersburg, Va.

The last three CIAA champions have either been the Falcons or Rams. The Rams took it all in 2012 and 2011, and the Falcons won the title in 2010.

The series features two teams who know how to hit a baseball. The Rams rank first in six NCAA Division II offensive statistical categories including hits. Their .360 batting average is fifth in Division II. The Falcons are 15^th in the nation with a .339 batting average and fifth in doubles.

The Falcons are better statistically on the mound. Their earned run average of 3.84 tops the CIAA in a conference known for its scoring. Clarence Ganus (Sr./Whiteville, N.C.) leads the league with a 2.29 ERA and Alex Edwards (Jr./Chicago, Ill.) is second with a 2.30 ERA. John Hailey (Sr./Rockingham, N.C.) is tied with Winston-Salem State's Scott Wells with a league-high five wins and Desmond Cheek (Fr./Asheboro, N.C.) is 4-0. The Rams are second in the conference with a 4.08 ERA.

St. Aug Head Coach Charles Whitaker says this weekend will be the biggest test yet for his talented pitching staff.

“Pitching is the key,” said Whitaker, named CIAA coach of the week. “We have to keep them off base. We have to lead the pitch count with strikes and not balls.”

On offense, the Falcons plan to continue hitting the ball as they have done all season. They possess the conference's best hitter in Clarence Peace (Jr./Creedmoor, N.C.), who bats .452. The CIAA co-offensive player of the week, Peace is one of three Falcons who bats .375 or better among the regulars. Ariel Polanco (Sr./Harlem, N.Y.) bats .408, Bobby Delly (Fr./Lancaster, S.C.) hits .400 and Jason Baytop (Fr./Manchester, Md.) hits .375. Another hitter to watch is Daveed Todd (Sr./Chicago, Ill.), who leads the team and ranks fifth in the CIAA with 31 RBIs.

“All of our big hitters have got to hit, and we have some big hitters,” Whitaker said.

The Rams have the top four RBI hitters in the conference with Rafael Gonzalez atop the list with 39. German Reyes leads the CIAA with seven home runs and Tyler Hickernell is second with six. Hickernell also has 38 RBIs and Reyes has 35. Travis Moore ranks third in the CIAA with a .427 batting average.

Both teams have power at the plate and solid pitching, but Whitaker says fielding will also impact the series. The Falcons are third in the conference and the Rams are fourth in making the lowest number of errors.

“Most importantly, we've got to play error-free baseball,” Whitaker said.