FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 2-8-03

College Baseball: No. 25 AASU 18-6, Mars Hill 0-1

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Pirate pitching limited Mars Hill to just four hits on the day while the Armstrong Atlantic State bats combined for 24 runs and 25 hits as AASU swept a doubleheader from the Lions, 18-0 and 6-1, at Pirate Field on Saturday afternoon.

The Pirates jumped on Mars Hill pitching in game one, scoring six runs in the first two innings, highlighted by junior Stacy Bennett's two-RBI single in the second. AASU (5-0) continued to pour it on as juniors Michael Pelley and Kyle Maddux added their first home runs of their Pirate careers during the game and junior George Fletcher banged out four hits and two RBI to make a winner of Curtis Morrison (2-0), who struck out 11 Lions batters in 5 2/3 innings of shutout ball. Freshman Brett Hart picked up the save, pitching out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth inning and holding the Lions (0-4) hitless the rest of the way. Tom Foster (0-1) took the loss for Mars Hill, giving up 11 runs - four earned - and nine hits in 4 2/3 innings pitched.

In the second game, the Pirates again scored early, getting a single run in the first inning on Pelley's sacrifice fly, then plating three in the second inning on an error and RBI singles by sophomore Matt Stephens and Bennett. Junior Jeremy Olson (2-0) pitched the complete-game win, giving up just two hits and one run in seven innings, while striking out nine Lions batters. Chris Flynn (0-2) took the loss for Mars Hill, giving up six runs - three earned - and eight hits in six innings pitched.

Bennett ended the day by going 5-for-8 with seven RBI from the plate, while Fletcher added a 4-for-9 day for the Pirates.

Both teams will wrap up their series with an 11:00 a.m. contest on Sunday at Pirate Field.

- Pirates -