FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 3-23-02

College Baseball: No. 11 Columbus State 1, No. 19 AASU 0

Release Courtesy of CSU Sports Information

COLUMBUS, Ga. – Senior right-hander Scott Sears may have earned himself a new nickname on Saturday in the Cougars' 1-0 win over Armstrong Atlantic State. That name would be Houdini. Sears pitched out of jam after jam as he stranded 12 AASU runners in taking the win. Brian Baker pitched a perfect ninth to notch his second save.

The Pirates left three on in the first inning, two in the third, two in the fifth, and two in the seventh. The only inning in which they failed to leave a baserunner was the sixth. AASU had its best chance to score in the fifth when Matt Stephens led off with a double. They would load the bases on a single and a walk before a Rob Mills grounder led to an force-out at the plate for the first out. Chris Boaen then hit a liner off his fists to shortstop and Kirk Nordness was caught too far off second base for a double play to end the threat.

The Cougars plated the only run of the game in the fourth inning. After an Andrew Ginther infield single, Ben Sutter reached on an error by third baseman Stacy Bennett to put runners at the corners. Brian Koon's chopper just past the mound plated Ginther with what turned out to be the game winner.

AASU's Mike Roga pitched a gem as well, allowing seven hits and no earned runs. He fanned three and walked just one. Sears, meanwhile, walked six and struck out two in eight innings of work, allowing six hits. His team-leading ERA is now an even 1.00.

For the Pirates (26-8, 4-6) Matt Stephens and David Harriman each had two hits. For Harriman, his two hits extended his hitting streak to 34 games - an new PBC single-season record.

For the Cougars (23-8, 7-6) Andrew Ginther was the only player with more than one hit as he went 3-4.

The two teams will square off in a double header on Sunday beginning at 1 PM at Ragsdale Field to conclude the series.

- Pirates -