FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 2-28-04

College Baseball: No. 2 AASU 3-17, Queens 5-3

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Visiting Queens College scored three runs in the top of the ninth to capture the first game of the 2004 Savannah Invitational, 5-3, over No. 2-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State. The Pirates came back to take the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader, 17-3.

The Pirates (10-3) led 3-2 heading into the ninth inning, but Queens (1-1) led off the inning by getting Jason Ozner on by an error, then after a wild pitch moved him to second, Vincent Garelick drove him home with a single to left field, tying the game. Richard Rivara followed with a two-run home run to put the Knights up by two, 5-3. In the bottom of the ninth, the Pirates got the tying run on second base with one out, but reliver Patrick Hogarty got Adam and Michael Pelley to fly out to end the contest. Hogarty pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings of relief to pick up the win, while AASU reliever Brett Hart took the loss, giving up four runs – three earned – and four hits in three innings pitched.

In the second game, the Pirates unloaded for 15 hits and 17 runs in a 17-3 romp of the Knights. Senior Jon Dobyns improved to 4-0 on the season by giving up just two earned runs and four hits, while striking out six in four innings pitched. Six AASU players had multi-hit games, led by Michael Pelley’s 3-for-5 contest with three runs scored, and Brandon Nunez went 2-for-4 with three RBI, including a home run. Queens starter Michael Ziegler took the loss, giving up 12 runs – seven earned – and nine hits in six innings pitched.

AASU and Queens will play the final game of their set on Sunday, after the Knights take on Northwest Missouri State in a doubleheader that begins at 10:00 a.m. at Pirate Field.

-Pirates-