FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 2-27-03

College Baseball: No. 8 AASU 19, Mercyhurst 4

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The No. 8-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State baseball squad sent 14 men to the plate in a nine-run second inning to cruise past Mercyhurst, 19-4, in the opening game of the 2003 Savannah Invitational on Thursday afternoon at Pirate Field.

The Pirates (11-1) jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead, thanks to back-to-back home runs from junior George Fletcher and junior Andrew Graham, then chased Mercyhurst (0-1) starter Eric Meacham in the second inning with the nine-run outburst. Graham added an RBI double in the second inning and finished the contest with two home runs and five RBI, his second multi-homer game this season for the Pirates.

Junior Curtis Morrison (4-0) hurled three innings of one-hit ball, striking out four, to pick up his fourth win of the season. AASU used three scheduled pitchers in the game as junior Brian Dice hurled five innings, striking out six, in his longest outing of the season. The Lakers' Meacham (0-1) gave up 10 runs - all earned - on three hits, five walks and two hit batters to take the loss. Devin Kowalski supplied most of the Laker offense with a three-run home run in the top of the seventh inning. Junior Michael Pelley matched Graham's output for the Pirates with three hits as well, including a double.

The 2003 Savannah Invitational kicked off today and will feature 42 games over the next 21 days and bring 13 different NCAA Division II teams to the Savannah area.

Both teams will play again on Friday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. at Pirate Field.

- Pirates -