FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 3-5-05

College Baseball: Kutztown 11, AASU 5

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Kutztown handed host Armstrong Atlantic State its first loss of the season with a 11-5 victory over the Pirates in 2005 Savannah Invitational action at Pirate Field on Saturday afternoon.

The Golden Bears (7-3) pounded out 14 hits and used a four-run fourth inning to break open a one-run contest. Clay Kuklick had four hits and three RBI to lead Kutztown at the plate, while Gary Stricker added three hits and three runs scored. Ryan Loper (1-1) picked up the win for the Golden Bears, giving up four hits and three runs in five innings, while Philip Rummel hurled four innings of three-hit, two-run relief to pick up his first save of the season.

AASU starter Chris Webb (3-1) was tagged for six runs – five earned – and six hits in four innings of work to take the loss for the Pirates. Jonnie Geiger had two hits on the day for AASU, while Brandon Nunez added a two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning, his third home run of the season.

The 13-0 start by the Pirates was the second-best in school history, tying the 1986 squad that also went 13-0. The school record for a best start to the season came in 1988, when the Pirates went 21-0 en route to the school’s first-ever NCAA DII College World Series appearance.

AASU returns to action on Monday afternoon as the Pirates host California (Pa.) at 2:00 p.m. in continuing 2005 Savannah Invitational action.

- Pirates -