FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 1-27-02

College Baseball: AASU 11, St. Andrews 8 (10 inn.)

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Senior Matt Easterwood's three-run home run in the bottom of the 10^th inning capped a late-inning AASU comeback as the Pirates swept the weekend series from the St. Andrews Knights with a 11-8 win on Sunday afternoon at Pirate Field.

Easterwood's heroics were set up by a ninth-inning rally by the Pirates (3-0). Trailing 8-4 when the ninth inning started, pinch hitter Ryan Chromek doubled to lead off the inning against new Knights (0-3) pitcher Brian Walker, then Chris Dentler singled and Chris Boaen drilled a three-run home run to center field on a full count to chase Walker and bring the Pirates to within one run. AASU then loaded the bases on St. Andrews' Kevin Smith (0-1) and Rob Mills' RBI groundout drove in the tying run.

Zach Shelnutt (1-0) struck out the side in the top of the 10^th inning for the Pirates, then Easterwood homered off of Smith with two on and one out for the victory.

The comeback wasted a gutty pitching effort by the Knights' Derek Batton. The sophomore lefty kept the Pirate bats silent, limiting them to four runs - three earned - and seven hits through eight innings.

The Pirates were led offensively by Boaen and Dentler with four hits apiece. Boaen's 4-for-6, 5 RBI day capped a weekend in which the Savannah Christian graduate went 10-for-15 with 10 RBIs at the plate, including two home runs. St. Andrews was led offensively by Vincent Myers and Rob Slack, who picked up three hits apiece, and Jason Catlin, who drove in four runs, including clubbing a three-run home run.

The No. 18-ranked Pirates are next in action on Friday, February 1 as they host Tusculum College at 2:00 p.m. at Pirate Field.

- Pirates -