DURHAM, N.C. – Jordan DiValerio struck out 10 in six innings on Friday night as the Saint Joseph's baseball team topped North Carolina Central, 5-1, in the series opener between the teams at Durham Athletic Park.

HOW IT HAPPENED
• Saint Joseph's (4-4) jumped out to a quick lead two batters into the game as Jake Artz led off with a single, stole second base, and then scored on an error.  That error allowed Brendan Hueth to reach base; he would then steal second himself before scoring on a single by Nate Thomas that staked the Hawks to a 2-0 lead before an out was recorded.

• SJU extended the lead in the fifth as Artz reached on an error that allowed Matt Cuppari to score and make it a 3-0 game.

• An inning later, Langston Livingston went deep for the second time this season to push the margin to 5-0.

• North Carolina Central (3-8) would get one back in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI groundout by Myles Coston.

• Luke Zimmerman came on in relief of DiValerio in the seventh and faced the minimum over the final three innings to secure his first save of the season.

BEHIND THE BOX SCORE
• DiValerio won his third consecutive outing to start the season, allowing just a single unearned run on five hits while walking two and striking out 10 in six innings.  He improved to 3-0 on the season.  Ryan Miller took the loss for the Eagles, allowing five runs – three of them earned – on seven hits while striking out eight in six innings.

• Zimmerman allowed just two runners, on an error and a walk in the seventh, but erased them on a pickoff and a double play ball.  He then retired the final seven hitters in order, striking out three, for his first save.

• Brian Markoski notched two hits for the Hawks, while Carter Williams and Luis DeLeon each did the same for NC Central.

UP NEXT
The teams will meet for the middle game of the weekend series on Saturday afternoon.  First pitch from Durham Athletic Park is set for 3:00 p.m.