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Falcons Fall Twice To WSSU In Baseball Twinbill

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 RALEIGH, N.C. – Ariel Polanco (Sr./Harlem, N.Y.) hit two RBIs and doubled twice for Saint Augustine's University in 7-4 and 3-1 losses to Winston-Salem State University in a CIAA baseball doubleheader at Optimist Park on Saturday, March 30, 2013.
 
The Falcons (22-12 overall, 9-2) lost in the conference for the first time this season. They led the CIAA at 9-0 entering Saturday's twinbill, but the Rams (25-8 overall, 10-1 CIAA) moved into first place with the victories. Both teams play again Sunday, March 31, in a single nine-inning game at Optimist Park at 3 p.m.
 
The trio of Daveed Todd (Sr./Chicago, Ill.), Pat Hall (Sr./Virginia Beach, Va.) and Jason Baytop (Fr./Manchester, Md.) each had an RBI hit for the Falcons, who collected 17 hits combined in both games.  Five Falcons scored a run each including Todd, Polanco, Baytop, Bobby Delly (Fr./Lancaster, S.C.) and Sterling James (So./New Castle, Del.).
 
In the first game, the Falcons grab a 3-0 lead in the third inning. The trio of Polanco, Todd and Hall each hit an RBI double in the inning to give the Falcons early momentum before a huge crowd on a nice day at Optimist Park. The Falcons lost their steam in the next inning when starting pitcher John Hailey (Sr./Rockingham, N.C.) left the mound after suffering an injury. Hailey kept the Rams in check the first three innings, striking out six and allowing two hits. The Rams are the Division II leaders in several offensive categories.
 
Brock Holmes (So./Brunswick, N.C.), who was coming off an injury, relieved Hailey before the top of the fourth started. Holmes did an admirable job, considering he hadn't pitched since March 4, but the Rams scored four runs in the inning to take a 4-3 lead. The Rams never trailed the rest of the day.
 
James tied the score 4-4 on a Rams' fielding error in the bottom of the fourth, but the Rams tacked on three runs in the sixth for a 7-4 lead which held up for the win.
 
Todd led the Falcons in the first game by going 3-for-4 at the plate with one RBI and one run scored. James was 2-for-3 with one run scored.
 
In the second game, the Rams opened a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. The Falcons scored their only run in the bottom of the first on Polanco's RBI double which scored Baytop. The Rams stretched their lead to 3-1 on a home run by Brandon Harrison in the seventh.
 
The Falcons almost came back to win in the seventh. They loaded the bases with two outs, but the Rams recorded a strikeout to end the contest. Clarance Ganus (Sr./Whiteville, N.C.) pitched a fine game despite getting the loss. He allowed three hits in seven innings.
 
Baytop was 2-for-4 with one run scored and William Thomas (Fr./Yorktown, Va.) was 2-for-3 for the Falcons. The trio of Polanco, Jeremy Wilkins (Sr./Smithfield, N.C.) and Clarence Peace (Jr./Creedmoor, N.C.) each collected a hit.
 
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