FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 3-7-02

College Baseball: No. 6 AASU 7, Grand Valley State 3
No. 6 AASU 12, Gannon 6

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The No. 6-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State baseball squad ran its winning streak to nine straight games with two wins on Thursday, defeating Grand Valley State, 7-3, and knocking off Gannon, 12-6, in 2002 Savannah Invitational action.

The Pirates got a 4-for-4 performance from junior Chris Boaen and two hits from senior David Harriman, including his eighth home run of the season, in the Pirates' 7-3 win over Grand Valley State at Pirate Field. Senior Brian Allen (3-0) hurled eight innings, giving up just six hits and one earned run while striking out 10 batters for his third win of the season. Grand Valley State (3-2) was led by Joe Brunink's three hits and two RBI, while Nick Heethuis (1-1) was saddled with the loss, giving up 10 hits and five runs in 6 1/3 innings pitched.

AASU (21-3) then played Gannon at Chain Field in Garden City on Thursday evening and used a seven-run fourth inning to come away with the 12-6 victory. Freshman Ryan Roeder and senior Kirk Nordness each collected three hits on the evening, and Nordness clubbed his team-leading 10^th home run of the season. Junior Josh Smith (2-0) earned the victory, striking out seven batters in 2 1/3 innings pitched of one-hit relief for the Pirates. Gannon (0-6) was led by Brian Shaffer's two hits and four RBI and Brett Hughes took the loss for the Golden Knights, giving up seven hits and six runs in 3 1/3 innings pitched.

The Pirates are next in action on Saturday, March 9 as they host Hillsdale at 2:00 p.m. at Pirate Field in continuing 2002 Savannah Invitational action.

- Pirates -