FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 3-24-04

College Baseball: AASU 3, No. 24 Southern Connecticut State 0

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Thomas Ferrara and Brett Hart combined on a three-hit shutout to give Armstrong Atlantic State head coach Joe Roberts his 1,000th career coaching win in a 3-0 victory over No. 24 Southern Connecticut State on Wednesday afternoon at Pirate Field in the final game of the 2004 Savannah Invitational.

The Pirates (19-13) have now won two in a row after dropping eight of their last nine games as Ferrara (2-1) limited the Owls to one hit in five innings, then Hart came out of the bullpen to throw four innings of two-hit shutout ball to pick up his second save of the season.

The win improves Roberts’ record in 24-plus years of coaching at Armstrong Atlantic State to 1,000-455, moving him into exclusive company. Only three active coaches at the Division II level have won 1,000 games – current all-time victory leader Tommy Thomas of Valdosta State (1,217), Porky Viera of New Haven (1,062) and now Roberts.

AASU went up 1-0 in the second inning as George Fletcher led off the inning with a double to right field, then Kyle Maddux followed with a double to left field, driving in Fletcher. The Pirates stretched the lead to 2-0 in the seventh inning on a leadoff walk by McKinnon, a sacrifice bunt by Brian Dice and a two-out RBI single to right field by Rob Recuenco.

Senior captain Michael Pelley then led off the eighth with a solo home run to center field for the final margin. Southern Connecticut State (9-6) designated hitter Jon DeRubeis had two of the Owls’ three hits on the day and Brian Forgione (3-2) pitched well in the loss, giving up just five hits and three runs in 7 1/3 innings pitched, striking out five.

AASU returns to action on Saturday, March 27, as the Pirates travel to Greenwood, S.C., for a 3:00 p.m. Peach Belt Conference matchup with Lander University.

-Pirates-