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Box Score 2 RALEIGH, N.C. – Jeremy Sandifer (Sr./Virginia Beach, VA) scattered six hits and struck out eight in seven complete innings and Saint Augustine's University scored three runs in the fourth inning to defeat Chowan University 4-2 in the second game of the CIAA baseball doubleheader at Optimist Park on Sunday, March 29, 2015. Chowan won the first contest 5-2. The Falcons are 1-1 in the CIAA and 11-15 overall. The Hawks are 5-5 in the CIAA and 15-15 overall.
The reigning CIAA Pitcher of the Week, Sandifer added to his strikeout total which leads the conference. He tops all CIAA pitchers with 50 strikeouts this season.
Sandifer pitched the Falcons out of a bases-loaded jam with no outs in the top of the fourth inning. The senior hurler struck out two batters before giving up an RBI single to Tyler Burden for a 2-1 Hawks' lead. Sandifer left three Hawks on base, however, when he forced a groundout to end the side.
His pitching was pivotal in the inning for the Falcons, who scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 4-2 lead. Carey Cheek (Jr./Baltimore, MD) scored from third on a double steal, and Jason Baytop (Jr./Manchester, MD) scored Timothy Carter (So./Lumberton, NC) on a double down the left field line. Roberto Rivera (Fr./Millville, NJ) scored Joshua Bumgardner (Fr./Durham, NC) on a single. Once the Falcons gained the lead, Sandifer made sure they wouldn't lose it. He shut out the Hawks in the final three innings to secure the win. Sandifer allowed one hit and recorded four strikeouts during that stretch.
The Falcons fell behind 1-0 in the second inning on Steven Hux's RBI single, but tied the score in the third inning when Baytop scored on a wild pitch.
In the first game, the Hawks scored three runs in the third inning for a 3-0 lead. The Falcons closed the gap with two runs in the fourth inning when Cheek scored Rivera and Sterling James (Sr./New Castle, DE) on a single. The Falcons would not score again as the Hawks added two runs in the sixth inning for the final score. Both teams will play a second doubleheader at USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, N.C., on Monday, March 30. The starting times are 12 p.m. for the first game and approximately 2 p.m. for the second contest.
