FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 3-13-02

College Baseball: Missouri Western State 10, No. 3 AASU 7
No. 3 AASU 14, Concord 3

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The No. 3-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State baseball squad split two games on Wednesday, dropping a 10-7 decision to Missouri Western State but rebounding to defeat Concord, 14-3, in the Pirates' final day of action in the 2002 Savannah Invitational.

Missouri Western State (7-3) jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first four innings against the Pirates, then held on for the 10-7 win, ending AASU's winning streak at 13 games. Ryan Donaldson and Zak Hill led the Griffon hitting attack with three hits apiece, while Sean Harvey (2-0) hurled seven innings, scattering eight hits and giving up five runs for the victory. The Pirates got three hits from sophomore Ryan Chromek, including his second home run of the season, and three hits from senior Kirk Nordness. Sophomore Nick Wells (2-1) suffered the loss, giving up eight hits and eight runs - four earned - in 2 1/3 innings pitched for the Pirates.

AASU (26-4) then rebounded by pounding out 15 hits as the Pirates knocked off Concord (4-4), 14-3, at Grayson Stadium. Senior David Harriman extended his season-long hitting streak to 30 games with a two-run home run in the third inning, while sophomore Stacy Bennett went 2-for-5 with four RBI on a solo home run and a triple. Junior Jeremy Olson (3-0) picked up the win for the Pirates, hurling three innings of two-hit shutout relief, striking out five, while Concord starter Dereck Finnigan was tagged with the loss, giving up 12 hits and 10 runs - eight earned - in five innings.

The Pirates conclude the 2002 Savannah Invitational with a 13-1 mark.

AASU next hosts No. 2-ranked and three-time defending Peach Belt Conference champion North Florida on Saturday, March 16 at Noon for a doubleheader at Pirate Field.

- Pirates -