April 2015

Falcons fall short but player sees bright future.

CARY, N.C. – Saint Augustine’s University’s baseball team fell to 13-17 with a loss Monday to Coker College, but the players are not discouraged yet.

“Right now we’ve been playing well as a team and I expect us to carry it into the next game and the rest of the season going into the conference,” said Jason Baytop (Jr./Manchester, MD).

“This team thrives on being the underdog each game,” Baytop added. “The only thing we can do is stay humble and let our play do the talking.”

He also feels that they have a lot more talent than what they are given credit for. The Falcons were picked preseason to finish fourth in their conference.

The Falcons pitching has carried the team and, if their bats get hot, the team can finish the season strong. But all elements of the team – hitting, pitching and defense – will have to be consistent. The bats showed promise in the Coker game, when they racked up a season-high 19 hits. But seven errors allowed the opponents in the nonconference game came back for an 11-10 loss.

Baytop, who went 3-5 in the Coker game, said the lack of a home field is not a disadvantage for the Falcons unless they let it be. “Were not the only team in our conference without a field on campus so we can’t let that stop us from getting better,” he said. “We just know we have to work harder then other teams and take advantage of what facilities we do have.”

The Falcons will play Virginia State University in a doubleheader at Whaley Colbert Field in Ettrick, Va., on Saturday, April 11, and Sunday, April 12.

— Blake Stacy