FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 3-11-02

College Baseball: No. 3 AASU 7, Concord 1

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The Armstrong Atlantic State baseball squad won its 12^th game in a row by defeating Concord, 7-1, in 2002 Savannah Invitational action on Monday afternoon at Pirate Field.

The Pirates (24-3) - who ascended to No. 3 in the rankings in the latest Collegiate Baseball Division II Coaches' Top 25 poll released on Monday - jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead on senior Kirk Nordness' 11^th home run of the season, a two-run shot in the first inning off of Concord starter Kevin McClung. A solo home run by Concord (4-2) catcher Justin Stephenson cut the lead to 2-1 in the top of the third, but the Pirates would plate a single run in the bottom of the third on senior Rob Mills' RBI single, then plate two in the fourth on an RBI double by sophomore Ryan Chromek and an RBI single from senior catcher David Harriman.

Junior Josh Smith picked up his third win of the season in his first start for the Pirates, pitching four innings and giving up one run and two hits while striking out three. Junior Jeremy Olson hurled two shutout innings of relief and junior Andrew Moss closed out the game with three innings of two-hit ball for his first save of the season.

Chromek collected a team-high three hits on the day, while sophomore Chris Dentler collected two hits and scored three runs. Harriman's two hits on the day extended his season-long hitting streak to 27 games.

The 12^th win in a row for the Pirates is the longest winning streak for AASU since 1993, when AASU won 16 straight games between March 2^nd and March 24^th, en route to a 45-13-1 season.

The Pirates are next in action on Tuesday, March 12 as they host Bryant (R.I.) at 2:00 p.m. at Pirate Field.

- Pirates -