FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 3-28-00

College Softball: No. 3 AASU 4-8, Eckerd 1-0

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The No. 3-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State softball team swept a non-conference doubleheader from Eckerd College, 4-1 and 8-0, on Tuesday afternoon at the Pirate Softball Complex.

The Pirates (34-3) watched Eckerd College (4-26) take a 1-0 lead in game one on Jackie Toth's solo home run in the fourth inning, but the Pirates plated three unearned runs in the bottom of the fourth, highlighted by Diana Julian's two-run single, to take the lead for good. Julian added an insurance run in the sixth with an RBI single and helped make a winner of Annie Sells, who allowed three hits and struck out 15 batters en route to her 13^th win of the season. Joyce DiGuglielmo gave up four runs in six innings to take the loss for Eckerd.

In the second game, the Pirates jumped on Eckerd starter Dawn Minas with a five-run fourth inning, blowing open a 1-0 game. Crystal McCracken hit a two-run home run, her 11^th of the year, and Kim Claborn followed with a two-run double for the Pirates. Ansley Paschal also added a solo home run later in the game. Junior Julie King picked up the win for AASU, hurling six innings of two-hit shutout ball, striking out seven for her 12^th win of the year. Minas was tagged for six runs and eight hits in five innings for the Tritons.

AASU takes nine days off before returning to action on Thursday, April 6 at No. 20 USC Spartanburg at 2:30 p.m. in a key PBAC matchup.

- Pirates -