FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 3-3-05

College Baseball: AASU 4, Northwest Missouri State 3

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The Armstrong Atlantic State baseball squad fought off a game Northwest Missouri State club in order to extend its perfect start to the 2005 season, picking up a 4-3 win on Thursday afternoon at Pirate Field and improving to 13-0 on the year.

AASU built a 4-0 lead through the first five innings, starting things off with a run in the bottom of the first when Sean Hotzak scored from second base on a passed ball by NWMSU catcher Ryley Westman. Rob Recuenco blooped a two-RBI single down the left field line in the second inning to plate two, then Jarin Lewis drove in a run with an RBI single in the fifth.

The Bearcats (3-5) started their comeback with a single run in the sixth, then threatened to come all the way back in the seventh against AASU reliever Leon Boyd. Boyd issued a one-out walk to Tristan Stewart, then Britt Westman doubled down the right field line and John White was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Ryley Westman singled through the left side to drive in two runs and put the tying and go-ahead runs on at second and third, still with just one out. Boyd then struck out pinch hitter Billy Burns and Cameron Dodd to end the threat, and did not allow a hit in the final two innings to close out the victory for the Pirates. The start by AASU is the best since the 1988 squad that began the season 21-0 en route to the program’s first DII World Series appearance.

Jon Troop (5-0) picked up the win for the Pirates, hurling six innings and giving up just one hit and one unearned run while striking out seven. Matt Coons (0-2) took the loss for the Bearcats, giving up four runs – one earned – and seven hits in six innings pitched. Boyd recorded his second save of the season for AASU. Jarin Lewis led the Pirates offensively by picking up three hits.

AASU next hosts Kutztown on Saturday, March 5, at 2:00 p.m. in continuing 2005 Savannah Invitational action at Pirate Field. NW Missouri State closes out its action in the Invitational against Montevallo at Noon on Friday.

- Pirates -