FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 3-16-06

College Baseball: Kutztown 8, No. 7 AASU 5

SAVANNAH, Ga. – No. 7-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State saw its 21-game winstreak come to an end on Thursday afternoon as Kutztown upended the Pirates, 8-5, capping AASU's action the 2006 Savannah Invitational.

The Pirates (21-1-1) started by scoring two quick runs in the bottom of the first inning, off a single by Miguel Donate and an error by Bears’ second baseman Josh Fink putting AASU up, 2-0. The Bears answered back scoring four runs in the top of the fourth inning with a two run double by Matt Dierholf and a two run homer to left field from Gary Stricker. Armstrong had a powerful bat of their own with a two run shot to center field from right fielder Truman Marek giving him his fourth home run on the season.

Kutztown pushed across four more runs in the next four innings to pull away and secure the victory. David Christopher picked up the win for Kutztown, hurling three and a third innings of six-hit ball, giving up three runs – three earned – and striking out one. Austin Ducey (2-1) took the loss for the Pirates, giving up one hit, one run and striking out three in one and one third innings pitched.

Marek led the Pirates with a three-hit day while driving in one run. Donate, Jarin Lewis, Brad Bohannon and Sean Hotzak all recorded two hits a piece, while Jeffery Craig finished the day 2-for-2 with one run scored and three RBIs to lead the Bears hitting. Ryan Loper went 3-5 on the day and added one run and one RBI.

The Pirates return to Peach Belt Conference action on Saturday, March 18, as they travel to Greenwood, S.C. to face Lander University at 3:00 p.m.

- Pirates -