FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 3-16-00

College Baseball: #25 USC Aiken 10, #16 AASU 4

Courtesy USC Aiken Sports Information

AIKEN, SC -- Less than 24-hours after managing only two runs on seven hits in a 12-2 loss to Newberry College, the #25 USC Aiken Pacers (16-13, 7-6 PBAC) responded to pound #16 Armstrong Atlantic State University (22-6, 5-5 PBAC) for 10 runs on 14 hits in upsetting the Pirates 10-4 in a key Peach Belt Athletic Conference match-up Saturday afternoon at J.H. Satcher Field. The win moves the Pacers above .500 in the conference for the first time since February 14, 1998.

Zach Conrad (6-0) tossed his third complete game of the season, allowing only one earned run on six hits while walking one and striking out nine.

The Pirates got single runs in each of the first two innings to take the early 2-0 lead. After Conrad sat down the first two Pirate hitters on called third-strikes, Kevin Bullard singled up the middle and then advanced to second on an error by centerfielder Sam Garau. Brian Pickel singled to drive in Bullard from second before Conrad would get Nick Snow to strike out looking to end the inning.

USCA would do most of its damage in a six-run seventh inning. After a pop-up to second base by Marc Bishop, Butch Martin singled to centerfield. Tavis Cummings then jacked his team-high eighth home run of the season making it 6-3 Pacers. Kirby Langley followed with a single and David Gillespie reached on an error as Chris Edwards would plate both runners
with an RBI-double. The next batter, Chris Harrington would blast the Pacers' third homer of the day and conference leading 32nd of the season to cap the Pacers scoring and make it 10-3.

Martin was a perfect 4-for-4 with four singles and a walk to raise his average to .280. Todd Fox, Cummings, Harrington, and Edwards each had two RBI on the day.

B.J. Brinkmeier (4-3) entered the game with a 1.52 earned run average, best among AASU starters, but was lit up for 10 runs, seven of which were earned, on 13 hits while walking one and striking out one over 6.1 innings in picking up the loss. Shane Valigora worked the final 1.2 innings allowing only one hit.

USCA and AASU will play a doubleheader Sunday, March 19 starting at 1:00 PM.