FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 3-22-00

College Softball: No. 3 AASU 5-9, West Virginia State 0-1

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The No. 3-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State softball team swept a non-conference doubleheader from West Virginia State, 5-0 and 9-1, on Wednesday afternoon at the Pirate Softball Complex.

The Pirates (28-1) used home runs by Crystal McCracken and Annie Sells to put up five runs in the first four innings, then let Sells do the rest from the pitcher's circle. Sells pitched a one-hit shutout, striking out 11 West Virginia State (3-7) batters, to improve to 11-0 on the season.

In the second game, the Yellow Jackets took a 1-0 lead in the third inning on Heather Allen's solo home run, but the Pirates responded with nine unanswered runs, banging out 13 hits to win the second game. Pitcher Maria Lopez went 3-for-3 with four RBI and center fielder Kim Claborn went 3-for-3 with three runs scored for AASU. Lopez improved to 9-1 on the year as she struck out 10 batters for the victory.

AASU next travels to Lander University on Thursday, March 23 for a 2:00 p.m. doubleheader with the Lady Senators. West Virginia State continues their road trip as they travel to Jacksonville, Fla., to face North Florida on Friday, March 24.

- Pirates -