CARY, N.C. – Saint Augustine's University will host four-time defending CIAA champion Winston-Salem State University in a four-game CIAA baseball series at the USA Baseball National Training Complex on Senior Weekend Friday, April 17, and Saturday, April 18, 2015.
Action begins with a doubleheader on Friday beginning a 2 p.m. Both teams will play another doubleheader on Saturday starting at 1 p.m.
The Falcons (14-20 overall) enter the series tied for third place in the CIAA standings at 4-4. Winston-Salem State (27-12 overall) is first in the conference at 7-1. The Rams are 29th nationally in the latest Collegiate Baseball Division II rankings.
The series pits the best pitching staff against the top hitting team in the CIAA. The Falcons are first in earned run average (3.94) and the Rams own the top batting average (.315).
For the Falcons, Jason Baytop (Jr./Manchester, MD) ranks third in the CIAA in batting average (.391) and second in steals (19). Roberto Rivera (Fr./Millville, NJ) ranks fourth (12) in the conference in steals. Jeremy Sandifer (Sr./Virginia Beach, VA) of the Falcons ranks first (59) and Bryan Rivera (Sr./Cidra, Puerto Rico) ranks third in (52) in the CIAA in strikeouts. Desmond Cheek (So./Franklinville, NC) is fifth in the CIAA in earned run average (3.09), and Sandifer is tied for first in saves (3). For the Rams, Connor Andrus leads the CIAA in runs batted in (34) and Dylan Dombrowskas ranks third (30). Gavin Culler leads the CIAA in stolen bases (23) and Alex Grubb is tied for fourth in home runs (4).
Sam Burton of the Rams leads the CIAA in earned run average (1.75) and ranks second in strikeouts (53). Aaron Hatch ranks fifth in the CIAA in strikeouts (48).
