FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 4-13-03

College Baseball: No. 7 AASU 5-2, USC Spartanburg 4-0

Release Courtesy of USCS Sports Information

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Steve Warren tossed an inspired game, taking a no-hitter into the sixth inning of game two, but 8th-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State squeaked out a 2-0 victory to record a Peach Belt Conference series sweep over the Rifles at Duncan Park. The Pirates defeated the Rifles 5-4 in the first game of the doubleheader.

Armstrong Atlantic State improves to 29-7 overall and 13-5 in the conference. USCS falls to 23-23 overall and 8-16 in the league. It marks the first time since March 14 that the Rifles have not been above .500.

Warren and Armstrong Atlantic State starter Jon Dobyns were engaged in a classic pitcher’s duel. However, Warren was getting the best of his counterpart, especially through three innings.

In the fourth inning, Chris Boaen reached on an error to leadoff the inning. He advanced to second on balk, then to third on a sacrifice bunt. He scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of George Fletcher. Despite the run, Warren still had a no-hitter going.

USCS’ biggest threat through the first few innings came in the second when the Rifles put runners on second and third with two outs, but couldn’t get a run across.

Armstrong finally got a hit in the sixth inning. With one out, Boaen walked and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Fletcher then doubled to score Boaen to make the score 2-0. Stacy Bennett singled in the seventh inning for the only other hit against Warren.

Warren (3-3) finished the game having given up one earned run and two hits through seven innings. He struck out six along the way, but still took the loss. His performance overshadowed a solid combined effort by Armstrong’s Dobyns and Zach Shelnutt. Dobyns (9-1) tossed five strong innings, giving up five hits and no runs to record the win. Shelnutt (5) picked up the save, his second of the series, with two scoreless innings.

In the first game, USCS bolted out of the gates with two runs in the bottom of the first. Brad Wingo drew a bases loaded walk and Ross Vigder had a sacrifice fly to do the damage.

Armstrong responded with a run in the top of the third inning when Brian Dice scored on a throwing error. USCS, though, increased its advantage to 4-1 in the bottom of the fifth. Chris Nowak singled to drive in Tim Gray and Wingo singled to plate Nowak.

However, the Pirates scored three runs in the top of the seventh to tie the game and went ahead with a run in the eighth. With runners on second and third and no outs in the seventh, Matt Stephens walked to load the bases. Michael Pelley scored on a wild pitch. With two outs, Boaen singled to drive in two runs to tie the score.

In the eighth, Graham singled to leadoff the inning. He advanced to second on an infield bunt single. Brandon McKinnon reached on a fielder’s choice as the Rifles tried to turn a double play to end the inning. However, the throw from second to first went wide and Graham scored with the winning run.

USCS had its chances in the ninth inning. USCS loaded the bases with one out in the inning, but reliever Brett Hart closed the door on Zach Huckabay and Nowak to end the game. Hart (3-1) pitched three solid innings to pick up the win.

Garrett Holmes (3-4), who tossed one inning of relief, took the loss for the Rifles.

- Pirates -