FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 2-2-03

College Baseball: No. 28 AASU 12, St. Andrews Presbyterian 3

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Junior Andrew Graham's grand slam home run capped a six-run eighth inning, giving the No. 28-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State baseball squad a 12-3 win over St. Andrews Presbyterian on Sunday afternoon at Pirate Field.

Graham's slam - his third home run of the weekend - helped the Pirates (3-0) break open a close game and sweep the season-opening series from the Knights (0-3). AASU scored four first-inning runs on four hits to take a 4-0 lead, but St. Andrews came back with three runs in the second inning - highlighted by Jason Catlin's second home run of the weekend, a solo shot that led off the frame - to make it a one-run game, 4-3.

The Pirates added single runs in the second and seventh innings to lead, 6-3, going into the eighth inning when AASU plated six runs against four St. Andrews relievers to clinch the contest. Junior Jon Dobyns (1-0) gave up three runs and five hits in five innings to get the win for AASU, while Bert Gore (0-1) gave up four runs - six earned - and eight hits in seven innings to take the loss for the Knights. Junior Jon Troop pitched four innings of two-hit ball to register his first save of the season.

AASU will be next in action on Saturday, February 8 as the Pirates host Mars Hill in a doubleheader, beginning at 11:00 a.m. St. Andrews Presbyterian next hosts UNC Pembroke on Tuesday, February 4, at 2:00 p.m.

- Pirates -