FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 3-11-08
College Baseball: No. 21 AASU 5, Kutztown 2
SAVANNAH, Ga. (March 11) – Josh Wilson and Chris Smith each collected three hits apiece while reliever Brandon McCreery worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the ninth inning to help No. 21-ranked Armstrong Atlantic to a 5-2 college baseball victory over Kutztown in 2008 Savannah Invitational action at Pirate Field on Tuesday.
In a turnaround from Monday, when AASU had 11 extra-base hits in a 24-hit day against California (Pa.), the Pirates (13-5) collected 11 hits on Tuesday – all singles – in winning their third straight contest. AASU picked up a single run in the second inning on Chris Smith’s RBI single that scored Kenny Cail all the way from first, then added two in the bottom of the fifth on Josh Wilson’s two-RBI single. Smith added another RBI single in the bottom of the sixth and Wilson collected an RBI single in the bottom of the seventh.
The Golden Bears, meanwhile, made things interesting in the eighth as Brandon McCreery entered the game with a three-run lead and, after walking Michael Dugan, struck out Jeff Kistle to end the threat. Kutztown (5-8) then loaded the bases in the ninth with two out, but McCreery got Garrison Rausch to pop out to shortstop to end the ballgame. McCreery hurled 1 1/3 scoreless innings to pick up his first save of the season. Ross Partee (2-1) hurled seven innings, giving up six hits and one unearned run while striking out four to pick up the win.
Kutztown reliever Justin Smith took the loss, giving up three hits and two runs in two innings. A trio of Golden Bears collected two hits – Dugan, Chad Lightcap and Mike Renda, while Wilson drove in three runs with his three hits for the Pirates and Smith drove in two.
Earlier in the day, Kutztown defeated Fairmont State, 16-7, in Savannah Invitational action.
AASU returns to action on Wednesday, March 12, with a 2:00 p.m. contest against Concord in continuing 2008 Savannah Invitational action at Pirate Field.
- Pirates -