BASEBALL

Writer: Anthony Jeffries, Sports Information Director
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February | March | April

February

February 8, 2007

Falcons Get Off To Slow Start In Season-Opening Doubleheader

Saint Augustine’s College collected six hits in a 7-1 loss to UNC Pembroke in the Falcons’ baseball season opener on Wednesday, February 7, 2007, at Sammy Cox Field.

In the second game of the doubleheader, UNCP pounded 17 hits, held the Falcons to four hits and took advantage of nine errors in a 19-0 victory.

In the first game for the Falcons, Fidell George (Chicago, IL) was two-for-three at the plate including a double. Alfonza Jackson (Orange, NJ) was also two-for-three and A.J. Burnette (Annapolis, MD) was one-for-three, including a double. Justin Vias (Hampton, VA) pitched the entire seven innings and scored the Falcons’ only run in the fourth inning after a single to left field and eventually scoring on a throwing error.

The Falcons will visit Benedict College in Columbia, SC, in a single game at 2 p.m. on February 12, 2007.

February 13, 2007

Benedict Stops Falcons’ Late Rally

Saint Augustine’s College mounted a furious rally, scoring six runs to tie the score in the ninth inning, but in the bottom half of the ninth, Benedict College scored to win 9-8 in a non-conference baseball thriller on Monday, February 12, 2007.

Though down 8-2, the Falcons never quit as they erased a six-run deficit in the last inning. Kevin Johnson (Seattle, WA) tied the game on an RBI single, which scored Aaron Chambers. Benedict won, however, when Adrain Rodgers doubled to score Nathan Caldwell.

The game was close despite Benedict out hitting the Falcons 17-3. For the Falcons, Johnson was 1-of-5 with an RBI, and A.J. Burnette (Annapolis, MD) was 1-of-4 with an RBI. Chambers recorded three RBIs without a hit.

The Falcons will play again on Wednesday, February 14, 2007, when they host Saint Andrew’s Presbyterian College in a non-conference doubleheader at Emery Field starting at 1 p.m.

February 19, 2007

Saint Andrews Sweeps Falcons in Baseball Twinbill

Saint Andrews held Saint Augustine’s College scoreless in a college baseball doubleheader, beating the Falcons 7-0 in the first game and 25-0 in the second game at Clark Field on Sunday, February 18, 2007.

The Knights limited the Falcons to one hit combined in both games. Catcher Fidell George (Chicago, IL) collected the Falcons’ only hit in the first game.

The Knights scored six runs in the fourth inning to take the first game as they outhit the Falcons 11-1. In the second game, the Knights scored 12 runs in the second inning followed by eight runs in the third inning. The second game ended after five innings.

The Falcons will visit Barton in Wilson, NC, on Wednesday, February 21, 2007. The doubleheader will start at 1 p.m.

February 8, 2007

Falcons Get Off To Slow Start In Season-Opening Doubleheader

March

March 23, 2007

Shaw Sweeps Saint Augustine's College in CIAA Baseball Rivalry

Shaw University won two games over Saint Augustine's College in a CIAA baseball doubleheader between cross-town rivals at Emery Field on Wednesday, March 21, 2007. The Bears won 9-2 in Game 1 and 17-5 in Game 2.

The Bears (11-14, 7-3 CIAA) were led by Avery Bryant, who went 6-of-7 with seven RBIs and a home run in two games. Pat Rodrique went 3-of-6 with four RBI in both games for the Bears, who combined for 25 hits in two games.

The Falcons (2-17, 2-4 CIAA) had 16 hits including 10 hits in the second game. Three Falcons had two hits each in the second game including Justin Vias, A.J. Burnette and Ontario Bell. Fidell George and Reginald Holmes both hit triples and George led the Falcons with two RBIs in the second game.

Kasey Welch of Shaw scattered six hits in seven innings for the win in the first game, and Michael Grant was the second game winner.

The Falcons will host Elizabeth City State in a CIAA doubleheader at Emery Field on Saturday, March 24, 2007. The first game starts at 1 p.m.

March 23, 2007

NCCU Renews Rivalry With Sweep of Falcons

With bleachers full of fans and music blaring on a sunny day, Saint Augustine’s College and North Carolina Central met on the baseball diamond for the first time in quite a while.

The crowd was treated to nearly five hours of baseball with the Eagles winning both games in a CIAA doubleheader at Emery Field on Saturday, February 24, 2007. The Eagles won the first game 11-3 behind the pitching of Alex Weathersby, and they rallied late to win the second game 13-10.

The Eagles (4-9, 2-0 CIAA) won their first CIAA contests since the school resumed baseball after 32 years. The Falcons (0-9, 0-2 CIAA), meanwhile, are still searching for their first victory.

The doubleheader pitted Eagles’ Head Coach Henry White against Falcons’ Head Coach Warren Davis, who played under White when he coached at Saint Augustine’s College. White was head baseball coach at Saint Augustine’s College for 21 years.

White got the best of Davis as the Eagles captured both games. In the first contest, Weathersby hurled a four-hitter, striking out six, as he pitched a complete seven-inning game. Justin Goodson drove in three runs including two runs on an inside-the-park home run to spark the Eagles, who collected 10 hits. Goodson’s homer sparked a four-run sixth inning, which blew the game open.

The second game was more dramatic as the lead changed three times. The Eagles were ahead 4-0 in the top of the third inning but the Falcons erupted for four runs each in the bottom of the third and fourth innings. The Falcons led 9-6 in the fifth inning on an RBI triple by Justin Vias (Hampton, VA), who was 3-for-4 with four RBIs.

The Eagles, however, scored five runs in the sixth inning for an 11-9 lead. They tacked on two more runs in the seventh inning and withstood a minor rally by the Falcons in their last at-bat.

Goodson was 3-for-5 with an RBI and Tye Gray collected three RBIs for the Eagles. For the Falcons, Jamar McNeill was 3-for-3 to tie Vias for team hitting honors. Johnathon Guerra (Fayetteville, NC) was 2-for-4 with 2 RBI and Kevin Johnson (Seattle, WA) was 2-for-4 with an RBI for the Falcons, who host Coker College in a nine-inning game at Emery Field on Tuesday, February 27, 2007. The contest starts at 2 p.m.

March 30, 2007

NCCU Sweeps Saint Augustine's in Baseball

Justin Vias (Hampton, VA) led Saint Augustine’s College with five hits in the Falcons’ two CIAA baseball losses to North Carolina Central on Tuesday, March 27, 2007, at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

Vias drove in four runs on three hits including a home run in a 16-6 defeat the first game. He added two hits in an 8-7 loss the second game.

The Falcons (2-21, 2-8 CIAA) outhit the Eagles (12-17, 8-1 CIAA) 12-9 in the first game but committed four errors. NCCU exploded for nine runs in the sixth inning to break the game open. Justin Goodson and Marcus Mack both drove in three runs for the Eagles. A.J. Burnette (Annapolis, MD) added a home run for the Falcons.

The second game was closer as the Falcons rallied for two runs in the seventh inning but fell short in the one-run loss. With the base loaded and one out, the Falcons hit into a game-ending double play.

Five Falcons had two hits apiece including Ontario Bell (Gastonia, NC), Fidell George (Chicago, IL), Reginald Holmes (Chicago, IL), Kevin Johnson (Seattle, WA) and Vias. Holmes had two doubles and Bell hit for a double and triple in the loss.

Robert Landis was a perfect 4-for-4 with two RBIs for the Eagles, who got two hits and two RBIs from Goodson.

The Falcons will visit Virginia State on Saturday, March 31, 2007, in a CIAA doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. 1.

April

April 17, 2008

Vias, Bell, Thomas Earn All-CIAA Honors

Justin Vias (Hampton, VA) of Saint Augustine’s College was named to the 2007 All-CIAA baseball team, and Ontario Bell (Gastonia, NC) also of Saint Augustine’s College was selected to the 2007 All-CIAA baseball rookie team on Monday, April 16, 2007.

Vias, a junior chosen as a utility player, ranked fourth in the CIAA in batting average (.443) entering last week. The Falcons’ ace pitcher, Vias also has played catcher, third base, left field, shortstop and designated hitter. In addition to leading the Falcons in batting average, Vias leads the Falcons in hits, triples, runs scored and sacrifice flies.

Bell, a freshman pitcher and outfielder, was among the team leaders in batting average, hits, runs scored, doubles and stolen bases.

Several days earlier, Saint Augustine’s College’s Chrishauna Thomas (Suitland, MD was named to the 2007 All-CIAA softball second team. Thomas, a senior, plays left field for the Lady Falcons.

April 21, 2006

Saint Augustine's topples top-seeded Virginia State

Fourth-seeded Saint Augustine’s College scored seven runs on six hits and a Virginia State error in the eighth inning to topple the top-seeded host Trojans 10-6 in the first game of the CIAA Baseball Championships Thursday. The Falcons will face crosstown rival Shaw, a 12-8 winner over defending champion Elizabeth City State, this morning at 11 a.m. in the winner’s bracket of the four-team double-elimination tournament.

Azor Cloud led the Falcons with two doubles and two RBIs on 3-6 hitting. Godfrey Burnside was 2-for-3 with a double and 1 RBI and Johnathan Guerra was 2-for-4. Clyde Bailey got the win and Justin Vias earned the save. The Falcons beat the Trojans for the third time in five games this season.

Saint Augustine’s 10, Virginia State 6
Saint Augustine’s 001 010 071 - 10 12 2
Virginia State 040 000 002 - 6 9 3
Bailey, Vias (8) and Whitaker; Shelton, Burton (7), Knight (8) and Jennings.
W-Bailey. Sv-Vias. L-Shelton.

Leading hitters: Saint Augustine’s-Cloud 3-6 (2 2B, 2 RBIs), Burnside 2-3 (2B, 1 RBI), Guerra 2-4; Virginia State-Knight 2-4 (2B, 2 RBI), Wood 2-4 (3B, 1 RBI), Wade 2-3 (3B, 1 RBI).

Records: Saint Augustine’s 9-23; Virginia State 17-11.

April 21, 2006

Meshaw of Saint Augustine’s named to All-CIAA baseball team

Second baseman Dennis Meshaw of Saint Augustine’s College was selected to the 2006 All-CIAA baseball team Wednesday. Meshaw, a junior from Elizabethtown, N.C., is among the CIAA leaders with 52 assists entering this week’s league baseball championships. He also is one of the Falcons’ top hitters with a .352 batting average. This is the second straight year Meshaw received a conference honor. In 2005, he made the CIAA All-Rookie baseball team.