FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 2-28-03

College Baseball: No. 8 AASU 3, Mercyhurst 0

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Junior closer Zach Shelnutt pitched out of a bases-loaded one-out jam in the eighth to preserve the No. 8-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State Pirates' 3-0 win over Mercyhurst in 2003 Savannah Invitational action at Pirate Field on Friday afternoon.

The Pirates (12-1) kept the Laker bats silent through the first eight innings, thanks to junior Jeremy Olson, who hurled seven shutout innings, striking out eight, but Mercyhurst (0-2) rallied in the top of the eighth. Chris Riordan reached on an infield single to begin the inning, then after a walk to Eugene Repa, reliever George Fletcher hit Matt Echon to load the bases. Fletcher struck out Devin Kowalski, then Shelnutt was summoned from the Pirate bullpen and induced a 6-4-3 double-play ball to end the inning. Shelnutt then pitched a scoreless ninth to pick up his first save of the season. Olson improved to 4-0 with the victory.

Mercyhurst's Steve Strohm (0-1) pitched a fine game as well for the Lakers, hurling six innings and giving up six hits and three runs, while striking out eight, but was saddled with the loss. The Pirates' Kyle Maddux and Brandon McKinnon each picked up two hits on the day to lead AASU, while Paddy Relihan's two hits led the Lakers.

Mercyhurst will play Gannon at 10:00 a.m. in continuing Savannah Invitational action at Pirate Field tomorrow, while the host Pirates will also play Gannon tomorrow, at 2:00 p.m.

- Pirates -