FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 3-21-04

College Baseball: No. 8 North Florida 6, No. 22 AASU 2

SAVANNAH, Ga. – North Florida sophomore Ryan Amason hurled a complete-game seven-hitter, limiting host Armstrong Atlantic State to just two runs, in a 6-2 Peach Belt Conference baseball victory on Sunday afternoon at Pirate Field, completing the three-game sweep of the Pirates.

Amason and the Ospreys (20-9, 10-2 PBC) won for the ninth straight time at Pirate Field over the Pirates (17-13, 2-7 PBC) and never trailed in the three-game series. Joey Russell’s leadoff home run in the second inning gave UNF its first run, then the Ospreys tacked two more on in the third inning on an RBI single by Jeff Millsaps and an RBI double by Joey Russell. AASU broke through in the fourth with an RBI single by Adam Pelley that scored Rob Recuenco, but North Florida added a single run in the fifth and two runs in the seventh to build a 6-1 lead.

Meanwhile, Amason was limiting the Pirates to just seven hits and getting help from his defense as UNF turned three double plays in the game. The last double play was crucial as the Pirates rallied in the bottom of the seventh to score one run – on a Dustin Thomas RBI single – and load the bases with one out. Amason then got Brett Hart to ground into the 6-4-3 double play, ending the threat. The Osprey hurler then retired final six batters in the game to improve to 4-2 on the season.

AASU senior Jon Dobyns (5-2) took the loss for the Pirates, giving up six runs – four earned – and six hits in six innings pitched. It was Dobyns’ first loss in his AASU career at Pirate field, snapping a streak of 13 consecutive wins at his home park.

The Pirates, who have dropped eight of their last nine games, return to action on Tuesday, March 23, as they host Southern Connecticut State at 2:00 p.m. at Pirate Field.

-Pirates-