FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 3-12-03

College Baseball: No. 4 AASU 16, No. 23 SIU Edwardsville 1

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Junior Stacy Bennett collected three hits and drove in six runs as every Pirates starter collected at least one hit in Armstrong Atlantic State’s 16-1 college baseball victory over SIU Edwardsville on Wednesday afternoon at Pirate Field.

The Pirates (18-1) collected five runs in the first inning, sparked by senior Chris Boaen’s two-RBI double, then added five runs in the fourth inning to put the game out of reach early. Bennett drove in runs in each of the Pirates’ first four innings, capped by a bases-clearing double in the fourth inning, to go 3-for-5 on the day. Junior Kyle Maddux also collected two doubles and two RBI while freshman Brett Hart (1-0) collected his first collegiate victory by pitching three innings of two-hit baseball. SIU Edwardsville (2-6) starter Kyle Jones was saddled with the loss as he was tagged for 10 hits and nine runs – all earned – in 3 1/3 innings of work.

Beau Moody led the Cougars offensively with two doubles and drove in SIU Edwardsville’s only run of the game in the fifth inning with an RBI double, plating Jarred Brueggeman. Andrew Graham added two hits and two RBI for the Pirates, who won their eighth straight game.

AASU will be next in action on Saturday, March 15, as the Pirates travel to Jacksonville, Fla., to take on the University of North Florida in a Peach Belt Conference series. SIU Edwardsville will play Concord and Wayne State on Thursday, March 13, in continuing 2003 Savannah Invitational action.

- Pirates -