FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 3-2-03

College Baseball: No. 8 AASU 10, Gannon 1

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Junior center fielder Brandon McKinnon collected three hits and four RBI - including his first home run of the season - as the No. 8-ranked Pirates downed Gannon, 10-1, in 2003 Savannah Invitational action at Pirate Field on Sunday afternoon.

McKinnon led off the first inning with a double and scored on a fielder's choice by senior Chris Boaen to give the Pirates (13-1) an early 1-0 lead. After a Kyle Maddux solo home run made it 2-0, McKinnon delivered a two-run shot to right field that put the Pirates up 4-0 in the seventh inning, then the junior plated two more with a single in AASU's six-run eighth inning. The outburst helped junior Joey Smith win his first start as a Pirate as he gave up just three hits and struck out five in five shutout innings. Zach Shelnutt hurled 1 1/3 scoreless innings for his second save of the season.

Gannon's Josh Leslie (0-1) pitched well, but took the loss, giving up two runs and five hits in five innings pitched for the Knights (0-1), who were making their season debut. Chris Matteucci led the Knights offensively with two hits, while Michael Pelley also collected two hits for the Pirates.

The same two teams will hook up for another contest tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. at Pirate Field, the makeup of their scheduled Saturday game that was rained out.

- Pirates -