FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 3-13-00

College Baseball: No. 16 AASU 1, North Dakota State 0

SAVANNAH, Ga. – AASU senior righthander Joey Williams outdueled North Dakota State's Mike Peschel to come away with a 1-0 college baseball victory in Savannah Invitational action on Monday afternoon at Pirate Field.

Williams scattered six hits and struck out eight in hurling his third shutout of the season for AASU (20-5). Peschel only gave up two hits for North Dakota State (2-1) but was done in by an unearned run in the bottom of the eighth inning.

With the score tied 0-0, shortstop Chris Boaen drew a leadoff walk for the Pirates, then pinch runner Ray Castillo was sacrificed to second base by Brian Chester. A wild pitch by Peschel put Castillo on third base, then David Cooper hit a ground ball that skipped underneath Bison second baseman Mike Johnson's legs. Castillo's run proved to be the winning run as Williams got a game-ending double play in the top of the ninth to preserve the shutout.

Williams did not allow a Bison runner to third base all day in improving to 6-1 on the season. The shutout is the fourth in Williams' AASU career and his 21 career wins ties the Metter, Ga., native for sixth all-time on the AASU win chart.

Boaen and Chester had the Pirates' two hits on the day, while Sam Rothstein and Matt Mann each had two hits apiece for the Bison.

AASU hosts Bemidji State in continuing Savannah Invitational action on Tuesday, March 14 at 2:00 p.m. Bryant will take on North Dakota State in the 10 a.m. game on Tuesday.

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