RALEIGH, N.C. – Marquis Johnson (So./Richmond, VA) fired a three-hitter in the first game and Saint Augustine's University tallied 12 hits in the second game to defeat Bluefield State College 4-1 and 7-3 in a non-conference baseball doubleheader at Lions Park on Friday, March 18, 2016.

Both teams will play another doubleheader at the same site on Saturday, March 19. The first game begins at noon with the second game starting approximately 30 minutes after the first contest. Admission is free.

Johnson stymied Bluefield State in the first game. The Falcons' pitcher struck out five, walked two and gave up no earned runs in seven complete innings for the victory. He entered the contest ranked fifth in the CIAA in strikeouts and earned run average.

The Falcons' hitters backed up Johnson with four runs on nine hits, including three runs in the fourth inning to break a 1-1 tie. Will Thomas (Sr./Yorktown, VA) started the inning with a triple down the left field line and later scored along with Darrell Langston (So./Chicago, IL) on Ricky Martin's (Sr./Raleigh, NC) double in the left centerfield gap. Martin scored when Corey Brassington (Jr./Raleigh, NC) hit an RBI infield single.

Johnson did the rest. After leading 1-0 in the first inning, Bluefield State failed to score again. The Falcons tied the score in the third inning when Joshua Bumgardner (So./Durham, NC) scored on a passed ball.

Martin led the Falcons offensively with two RBIs. Corey Brassington added an RBI on 2-for-3 hitting and Bumgardner was 2-for-3 with one run scored. Jacob Muncy was the losing pitcher for Bluefield State (4-16 overall) after pitching six innings.

The hitting continued for the Falcons in the second game. Corey Brassington was 3-for-3 with a double and three RBIs and Johnathan Sierra (So./Raleigh, NC) was 3-for-4 with a double and one run scored. Langston was 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored and Martin was 2-for-3 with one RBI and one run scored.

The Falcons struck quickly, scoring five runs in the first inning to erase a 2-0 deficit. Carey Cheek (Sr./Baltimore, MD) scored on Langston's RBI single after reaching base on a double. Thomas scored on Martin's single and Langston scored on Hector Pichardo's (Fr./Dominican Republic) RBI double down the left field line. Corey Brassington capped the first inning with a two-run double to score Martin and Pichardo.

The Falcons (7-20 overall) padded their lead to 6-2 in the second inning when Sierra scored on Cheek's sacrifice fly. Bluefield State scored in the third inning, but the Falcons extended their lead again when Langston crossed home plate on Corey Brassington's single in the fifth inning.

The runs were more than enough for Falcons' pitcher Sean Brassington (Sr./Raleigh, NC), who gained the pitching win in seven complete innings. He scattered seven hits, recorded two strikeouts and allowed one earned run.

Peyton Durham was the top hitter for Bluefield State, batting 3-for-3 with two doubles and two RBIs. Ridge Sibold was the losing pitcher after throwing six innings. He struck out five and walked five batters.