College Baseball: UNC Pembroke 14, No. 22 AASU 7

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 3-30-08

College Baseball: UNC Pembroke 14, No. 22 AASU 7

SAVANNAH, Ga. (March 29) – Ryan Kirkman hurled 5 1/3 shutout innings and UNC Pembroke scored eight unanswered runs as the visiting Braves picked up a 14-7 Peach Belt Conference baseball victory, salvaging a game in the three-game series with host Armstrong Atlantic State on Sunday afternoon.

The Pirates (21-9, 9-6 PBC) erased an early 6-2 UNC Pembroke lead in the bottom of the fourth inning with a five-run frame, capped by a two-run Joey Davis single that put AASU on top, 7-6.

UNC Pembroke (22-17, 6-9 PBC) quickly retook the lead in the top of the fifth inning on a sacrifice fly by Ryan Gathman and an RBI single by Derek Funk, putting the Braves up 8-7. A four-run seventh inning, highlighted by a two-RBI double by Jason Morales, put the game away, providing more than enough offense for Kirkman.

The Braves’ closer, Kirkman (3-3) entered the game in relief of Tyler Wood in the bottom of the fourth inning and proceeded to limit the Pirates’ bats to just three hits the rest of the way, striking out six in his longest outing of the season, picking up the victory. Ross Partee (4-2) gave up eight runs – four earned – and eigth hits in four-plus innings to take the loss for the Pirates.

Jason Coker paced the 16-hit Braves attack with four hits, including a double, while Morales finished the day 2-for-5 with a solo home run and four RBI. Derek Funk also added three hits for UNC Pembroke, while the Pirates were led by Juan Dorado’s two hits and Nick Pyron’s two hits and two RBI.

The loss ended AASU’s six-game conference winning streak and prevented the Pirates from tying both Columbus State and USC Aiken atop the Peach Belt Conference standings. AASU is in third place, one game behind the Cougars and next weekend’s opponent, the Pacers. The Pirates will face USC Aiken on Friday, April 4, at 6:30 p.m. in the first game of their three-game set.

- Pirates -