PETERSBURG, VA – Josh Catalano had a stellar game from the plate and John DesChamps threw another gem to lead the Chowan University baseball team to a 4-3 victory over Virginia State University in the opening round of the 2011 CIAA Tournament.  The Hawks advance to play Saint Augustine's College tomorrow at 11:00am.  The Falcons defeated Winston-Salem State University in the other opening round game, 3-2.

Catalano, an All-CIAA Rookie Team selection, led off the game for Chowan with a double and would later score on a Justin Bagbey sacrifice fly.  The Trojans had scored one run in the top of the first inning to take an early 1-0 lead.

Virginia State again scored in the top of the second to take a 2-1 advantage.  Blake Leebrick came through with an RBI single in the home half of that inning to score Adam Capps and knot the game at two runs apiece.

Pitcher John DesChamps (6-4), who was named to the All-CIAA Second Team this season, calmed the Trojan bats from that point on, allowing only three hits throughout the remainder of the contest.  He tossed all nine innings, giving up three runs off seven hits.  DesChamps struck out four and walked one batter.

The Hawks' offense broke the tie in the bottom of the fifth inning when Josh Catalano was driven in by a Justin Bagbey single.  Bagbey, a First Team All-CIAA selection, finished the game with a team-high two RBI.

CIAA Rookie of the Year Colby Wiggins singled to lead off the bottom of the sixth inning for Chowan.  William Ward then singled up the middle to score Wiggins and give the Hawks a 4-2 lead. 

Virginia State responded in the top of the eighth with a run to bring the score to 4-3 in favor of Chowan.  DesChamps threw a perfect 1-2-3 ninth, however, to seal the game and advance Chowan to the winner's bracket.

Josh Catalano went 3-5 at the dish and scored two runs.  Eight different players recorded at least one hit for the Hawks.  All four Chowan runs came when the lead-off man reached base and was driven in later in the inning.

Chowan is now 30-14 overall and has won 16 consecutive games, dating back to April 2^nd.