Baseball: No. 14 AASU 11, Michigan 4

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 2-21-03

No. 14 Pirates Defeat Michigan, 11-4, In Diamond Classic

SAVANNAH, Ga. (January 21) - The No. 14-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State baseball squad used a seven-run eighth inning to snap a 4-all tie and power past Michigan, 11-4, in the 2003 Memorial Health Diamond Classic on Friday evening.

The Pirates took a 3-1 lead in the fifth inning, thanks to Michael Pelley's two-RBI single, but Michigan fought back to tie it at 4-all in the top of the eighth inning.

AASU then sent 12 men to the plate in the eighth inning as Adam Brandenburg's RBI single put the Pirates ahead for good, then junior Stacy Bennett's three-run home run over the right field wall cemented the victory and extended the Pirates' season-opening win streak to 10.

Junior Brandon McKinnon collected three doubles and three RBI to lead AASU, while Pelley also added three hits and three RBI. Zach Shelnutt hurled two innings of two-hit shutout baseball to pick up the win for AASU.

The Pirates will take on Rider at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday in continuing action in the 2003 Memorial Health Diamond Classic.

- Pirates -