FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 2-8-04

College Baseball: No. 6 AASU 8, Anderson 7

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The No. 6 Armstrong Atlantic State Pirates survived 12 walks by its pitchers and held off a furious Anderson College comeback – thanks to a record-tying save by closer Zach Shelnutt – to win, 8-7, in college baseball action at Pirate Field on Sunday afternoon.

Anderson (0-3) struck first against Pirate starter Thomas Ferrara as Jason Ratliff and F.A. Vildosola drew two-out walks, then Donavon Schmidt lined a two-run double to put the Trojans up
2-0 in the first inning. Armstrong Atlantic (5-0) struck back with two runs in the bottom of the second inning on an RBI double by senior Brandon McKinnon and a squeeze bunt by freshman Sean Hotzak to tie the game.

In the top of the fourth, the Trojans loaded the bases against Ferrara with two outs, but AASU reliever Leon Boyd (1-0) struck out Caleb Owen with the bases loaded to get out of the jam. AASU then took the lead with five runs on six hits in the bottom of the fourth, highlighted by Adam Pelley’s two-RBI single, to take a 7-2 lead.

The two teams traded single runs in the sixth inning, with AASU reliever Brett Hart striking out Ratliff in the top of the sixth to end another bases-loaded Trojan threat.

In the top of the eighth inning, Anderson scored twice more and loaded the bases against Hart, forcing the Pirates to bring in senior closer Zach Shelnutt. Shelnutt uncorked a wild pitch to make the score 8-6, but got Schmidt to pop out to first baseman Michael Pelley to get out of the inning.

The ninth inning saw Shelnutt walk the leadoff batter, Kyle Lewis. Shelnutt induced a routine double play ball that was booted by shortstop Adam Pelley, and Anderson’s pinch hitter, Seth Thompson, beat out a bunt single to the pitcher to load the bases with nobody out.

Shelnutt again got a ground ball to short by third baseman Jonathan Pitts, this time turned into a 6-4-3 double play that scored Lewis, which put the tying run on third with two out. Leadoff hitter Jason Taylor then flied out to Brandon Nunez in right field to end the game, giving Shelnutt his 14th career save as a Pirate, tying the all-time school record, held by Mike Mitchener (1986-88) and Mike Ewing (1989-90).

Boyd picked up the win in relief, giving up one hit and one run in two innings pitched, while Anderson freshman Desmond Robson (0-1) suffered the loss in his first collegiate start, giving up seven hits and seven runs – five earned – in five innings pitched while striking out four. The two teams combined for 15 hits in the contest by 15 separate players.

AASU returns to action on Saturday, February 14, as it opens Peach Belt Conference action against No. 4 Kennesaw State in a Noon doubleheader at Pirate Field. Anderson College is next in action on Tuesday, February 10, as they host Carson-Newman at 2:30 p.m.

-Pirates-