FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 4-6-00

College Softball: #6 AASU 1-1, #19 USC Spartanburg 2-0

Courtesy USC Spartanburg Sports Information

SPARTANBURG, SC -- Nationally-ranked Peach Belt Athletic Conference rivals University of South Carolina Spartanburg and Armstrong Atlantic State University split a twinbill Thursday afternoon at Berry Field. The Lady Rifles (35-9) won the opener 2-1, with the Pirates (35-4) taking the nightcap 1-0.

Pitching was in control in both games. In the opener, Maricela Panuco (21-4) struck out nine Pirates and allowed just three hits to earn the win. Annie Sells (13-2) also tossed a three-hitter while striking out eight in the loss. The Lady Rifles struck first with a pair of runs in the fourth. Chanel Gonzalez legged out an infield single with one out. After stealing second, Gonzalez advanced to third on a wild pitch. Beth Bayer walked and stole second. Bayer moved to third and Gonzalez scored the game's first run on another wild pitch. When the Lady Rifles failed to lay down a squeeze bunt, it appeared Bayer would be put out at the plate. But the senior avoided two tags in the rundown and scored what proved to be the game-winning run.

The Pirates fought back for a run in the sixth. A Crystal McCracken single to left field scored Kim Claborn.

In the second game, Maria Lopez (10-1) tossed the Pirates' second three-hitter of the day. The junior struck out four and walked none in the complete game shutout. Kristy Middagh (11-5) suffered the loss despite throwing a five-hitter and allowing just one run. Armstrong Atlantic scored the game's only run in the top of the seventh. Lopez led off with a single, and Isa Tillery entered as a pinch runner. After a strikeout, Sells singled to left field. McCracken ripped a ground ball up the middle, and was thrown out at first, advancing the runners. Nicole Weirauch ripped a clutch, two-out single through the right side, scoring Tillery with the winning run.

USCS hosts #3 North Florida Saturday at 1:00 p.m., while Armstrong Atlantic State hosts #2 Kennesaw State Sunday at 1:00 p.m.