FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 2-29-04

College Baseball: No. 2 AASU 8, Queens 3

SAVANNAH, Ga. – AASU starter Thomas Ferrara hurled six no-hit innings and senior Zach Shelnutt worked out of an eighth-inning jam for a record-setting save in the Pirates’ 8-3 win over Queens College (N.Y.) in 2004 Savannah Invitational action on Sunday.

The Pirates (11-3) opened up a 3-0 lead in the fourth inning on a sacrifice fly by Heath Simmons, an RBI triple off of the hitting background in center field by Brandon Nunez and an RBI single by Rob Recuenco. Meanwhile, Ferrara (1-0) cruised through the first six innings, striking out seven and allowing just one walk to the leadoff hitter in the seventh inning. In the bottom of the seventh, AASU added two more runs on a squeeze bunt by Michael Pelley that scored Recuenco and a sacrifice fly by George Fletcher to push the lead to 5-0.

In the top of the eighth inning, Queens (1-4) loaded the bases against AASU reliever Chad Grass with nobody out. Shelnutt came into the game and got the Pirates out of the inning with a 5-3 lead, then retired the Knights in order in the ninth for his second save of the season and his 15th of his career, setting a new all-time AASU career record. Shelnutt had been tied with Mike Mitchener and Mark Ewing for the record prior to Sunday.

Robert Standish (0-1) took the loss for the Knights in his first collegiate start, giving up 11 hits and five runs in seven innings pitched, while striking out six. Nunez led the Pirates offensively on the day with four hits and two stolen bases.

In the Invitational’s other action on Sunday, Northwest Missouri State swept a doubleheader from Queens, winning 14-0 and 5-1.

AASU will take on Northwest Missouri State on Monday, March 1, at 2:00 p.m. at Pirate Field.

-Pirates-