FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 3-11-01

College Baseball: Armstrong Atlantic State 9, No. 25 Quincy 0

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Senior B.J. Brinkmeier fired a three-hit shutout, striking out a career-high 14, and junior Kirk Nordness went 4-for-4 with six RBI as the Armstrong Atlantic State Pirates defeated No. 25 Quincy, 9-0, in 2001 Savannah Invitational baseball action on Sunday afternoon.

Brinkmeier (4-1) gave up one single each in the first three innings to Quincy, then shut down the Hawks (2-6) the rest of the way. After Brad Graves' single with one out in the third inning, Brinkmeier set down 21 straight batters, including striking out the sides in the sixth and seventh innings, to close out the shutout. The senior from St. Charles, Mo., is currently riding an 18 2/3 scoreless inning streak and has struck out 32 batters in his last 21 innings pitched.

Nordness opened the scoring for the Pirates (18-6) in the first inning with a three-run home run off of Quincy starter Tim Breuning (0-1), then added RBI singles in the second and fourth innings and lofted a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning. Junior shortstop Trevor Rurak went 3-for-3 with three doubles and four runs scored and junior Matt Easterwood collected two hits in support of Brinkmeier.

Breuning gave up 10 hits and seven runs in four-plus innings to take the loss for Quincy.

AASU hosts SIU Edwardsville tomorrow, March 12, at 2:00 p.m. in continuing Savannah Invitational action at Pirate Field.

- Pirates -