FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 3-17-02

College Baseball: No. 2 North Florida 17, No. 3 AASU 3

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The No. 2-ranked North Florida Ospreys pounded out 20 hits and scored 17 runs in defeating No. 3-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State, 17-3, on Sunday afternoon to sweep a three-game Peach Belt Conference series from the Pirates.

North Florida (21-5, 11-1 PBC) jumped all over AASU starter Brian Allen (3-1), tagging the senior for 11 hits and nine runs - eight earned - in two innings as the Ospreys built a 11-0 lead through the first three innings. Ricky Willis and Ryan Soehlig each homered for the Ospreys in the third inning, chasing Allen from the game. The Pirates (26-7, 4-5 PBC) could manage just three runs in the game against UNF starter Tod Ewasko (6-0), who went six innings, giving up six hits to pick up the victory. Brian Rauch pitched three hitless innings for the Ospreys for his first save of the year.

Each Osprey starter had at least one hit and shortstop Ryan Knight and center fielder Alden Watson each collected three hits to lead North Florida. Pinch hitter Ed Conrey hit a three-run home run in the eighth inning, his first home run of the season for the Ospreys, who won their ninth consecutive game of the year.

The only bright spot for the Pirates came from the bat of senior David Harriman, who singled in the sixth inning to extend his season-long hitting streak to 33 games, setting a new Pirate record in the process. Harriman tied the record of 32 straight games, which he held with current AASU assistant coach Calvain Culberson, in Saturday's doubleheader against the Ospreys. Harriman's hitting streak is now the seventh best hitting streak all-time in NCAA Division II history.

The Pirates will next be in action on Saturday, March 23 as they travel to Columbus State for a Peach Belt Conference series with the Cougars, beginning with a 3:00 p.m. game.

- Pirates -