FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 4-12-03

College Baseball: No. 7 AASU 6, USC Spartanburg 5

Release Courtesy of USCS Sports Information

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – An engaging pitcher’s duel turned into a hitter’s game in the sixth inning as 8th-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State withstood a USCS rally to take a 6-5 victory over the Rifles Saturday afternoon at Duncan Park.

AASU (27-7, 11-5) and USCS (23-21, 8-14) will complete their three-game Peach Belt Conference series with a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader Sunday at Duncan Park.

USCS starter Trevor Berryhill and AASU starter Jeremy Olson were cruising through five innings, neither giving up a run in the opening innings. However, when the scoreboard hit the sixth inning, things changed.

AASU’s Matt Stephens led off the inning with a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Brian Dice singled to drive in Stephens with the first run. Dice later scored on an RBI-single by Chris Boaen.

USCS responded with a run in the bottom of the sixth. Zach Huckabay singled, then stole second with two outs. Chris Nowak, who had a stellar day in the field, singled to drive in Huckabay to cut the lead to 2-1.

Neither team scored in the seventh inning as Berryhill and Olson again calmed down. However, the eighth inning started off just like the sixth. Stephens again walked to leadoff the inning and advanced to second on a wild pitch. This time, Stephens scored on Stacy Bennett’s single. Dice, who had reached on a fielder’s choice, scored on a sacrifice fly by Andrew Graham.

Trailing 4-1, USCS came to bat in the bottom of the eighth and unloaded some fireworks. Adam Whiteside doubled to leadoff the innings. Huckabay reached on an error, allowing Whiteside to score. Nowak doubled to score Huckabay to cut the lead to 4-3. Tim Gray scored on a passed ball to tie the game, then Nowak scored on Brad Wingo’s sacrifice fly to give the Rifles a 5-4 lead.

George Fletcher singled to begin the ninth inning for AASU and advanced to second on a wild pitch. He moved to third on Michael Pelley’s sacrifice bunt. McKinnon doubled to drive in Fletcher for the tying run and scored on a sacrifice fly from Dice to give the Pirates a 6-5 lead.

Zach Shelnutt (4) pitched a hitless and scoreless ninth inning to record the save for AASU. Olson (7-3) took the win, while Berryhill (1-4) got the loss.

Dice had a hit and two RBI for AASU. Boaen had two hits to pace the Pirates. Nowak had two hits and two RBI for USCS.

- Pirates -