FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 3-12-02

College Baseball: No. 3 AASU 2, Bryant 1

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Sophomore Ryan Chromek singled home sophomore Chris Dentler with the winning run and senior Adam Olejniczak retired the final 11 batters of the game to pick up the victory as the No. 3-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State baseball squad defeated Bryant College, 2-1, in 2002 Savannah Invitational on Tuesday afternoon.

The game began as a pitcher's duel between AASU (25-3) starter Brian Allen and Bryant (4-8) righthander Chris Shea. AASU scratched across the first run of the game in the second inning when Chris Dentler ripped a two-out single to left field to drive in Chris Boaen and give the Pirates a 1-0 lead. Allen shut down the Bulldogs, keeping them scoreless for five innings, while striking out five batters in the game.

Bryant battled back in the sixth when Mike Ciallella and Jeff Renga hit back-to-back one-out doubles off of Pirate reliever Jason Hawkins, tying the game at 1-1. Olejniczak (2-0) then entered the game and set down all 11 batters he faced to close out the game and pick up his second win of the season. Shea was the hard-luck loser for the Bulldogs, pitching a complete game and giving up nine hits and two runs, while striking out four.

Dentler led a collection of four Pirate players who had two hits on the day in helping AASU win its 13^th consecutive game. Senior David Harriman collected a single and a double to extend his season-long hitting streak to 28 games, while Boaen and senior Matt Easterwood also collected two hits apiece. Renga led the Bulldogs with two hits on the afternoon.

The Pirates are next in action on Wednesday, March 13 as they host Missouri Western at 2:00 p.m. at Pirate Field, then the Pirates will play Concord at 6:00 p.m. at Grayson Stadium to wrap up their 2002 Pirate Invitational action.

- Pirates -