FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 3-23-03

College Baseball: No. 11 AASU 7-4, Columbus State 2-0

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The No. 11-ranked Pirates used timely hitting and clutch pitching to sweep a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader from visiting Columbus State on Sunday afternoon, defeating the Cougars 7-2 and 4-0 at Pirate Field.

In the first game, AASU jumped on Columbus State starter Brian Baker in the first inning, stringing together four straight two-out hits to plate two runs and take a 2-1 lead. The Pirates (21-5, 6-3 PBC) also scored a single run in the third and two more runs in the fifth and sixth innings to build a 7-2 lead. Five of the Pirates’ seven runs in the contest came with two outs, and sophomore Matt Stephens led the way offensively with three hits and two RBI. Junior Jon Dobyns limited the Cougars (21-13, 7-7 PBC) to two runs on five hits in six innings to improve to 6-1 on the season, while freshman Brett Hart hurled three shutout innings for his second save of the season. Baker took the loss for the Cougars, giving up 10 hits and seven earned runs in 4 2/3 innings pitched to fall to 3-2 on the year.

In the second game, AASU starter Curtis Morrison hurled six shutout innings, giving up just one hit and striking out six as the Pirates shut out Columbus State, 4-0. Morrison improved to 6-1 on the year and used an early cushion by the AASU offense to take the win. AASU loaded the bases with nobody out in the first inning on a walk and two infield hits, then brought home two runs on RBI groundouts to take the early 2-0 lead. Junior Brandon McKinnon’s RBI double plated Adam Brandenburg in the second inning for a single run, then Stacy Bennett’s sacrifice fly plated Michael Pelley with the fourth run in the third. John Habrack took the loss for CSU, giving up four runs and eight hits in six innings pitched to fall to 4-2.

Andrew Ginther went 3-for-6 in the doubleheader with two doubles to lead CSU batters, while Stephens finished the day 4-for-9 and Brandenburg finished 4-for-5 for the Pirates.AASU will be next in action on Saturday, March 29, as the Pirates host USC Aiken for a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader beginning at Noon at Pirate Field.

- Pirates -