FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 2-16-03

College Baseball: No. 20 AASU 10, Lewis 1

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The No. 20-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State baseball squad used a seven-run second inning to come away with a rain-shortened 10-1 victory over Lewis on Sunday morning, completing a three-game sweep of the Flyers.

AASU (9-0) sent 12 men to the plate in a bizarre second inning in which Flyer starter Joe Ballantine (0-1) could not escape. Ballantine faced six men in the inning, giving up three walks and three balks before Brandon McKinnon's RBI double chased him. Ballantine gave up six runs - five earned - in one-plus inning of work to take the loss. In total, the Pirates scored seven runs in the frame, taking advantage of five walks and five Lewis (0-3) errors.

Junior Jon Dobyns (3-0) pitched five innings, giving up four hits and one run while striking out six to pick up the victory for AASU. McKinnon collected two hits on the day, including an RBI triple in the third inning, to lead the Pirates offensively, while Jimmy Karr collected two hits for Lewis and drove in their only run in the top of the fifth inning.

As Lewis reliever Brett Meyer was warming up to begin the bottom of the fifth inning, a heavy rain begin to fall, and umpires called the game at 12:10 p.m.

The Pirates are next in action as they take part in the 2003 Memorial Health Diamond Classic at Grayson Stadium from Feb. 21-23. AASU will open up with Michigan on Friday, February 21, at 4:00 p.m.

- Pirates -