FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 2-15-03

College Softball: No. 9 AASU 2-5, Lewis 0-2

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Junior Stacey Richardson - the defending DII home run champion - picked up where she left off last season by cranking a two-run home run in leading the No. 9-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State Pirates to a 2-0 win and a season-opening doubleheader sweep of visiting Lewis University on Saturday afternoon. AASU took the second game, 5-2.

Richardson snapped a scoreless tie in the fifth inning with a two-run blast off of Lewis starter Emily Granath to give the Pirates (2-0) all the offense they would need in game one. AASU starter Katya Eronina hurled a four-hit shutout in her first start as a Pirate, striking out 12, to pick up the victory for AASU. Sophomores Amanda Kort and Stacy Oliver each had two hits for the Pirates.

In the second game, the Pirates pounced on Lewis (0-2) early, scoring a single run in the bottom of the first on a Kissy Stepanova RBI double, then plating four in the second inning, keyed by a Eronina home run and an RBI double by Abby Hodge. The offense made a winner of senior Delaney Warrian, who gave up four hits and two unearned runs while striking out six. Oliver again collected two hits to lead the Pirates offensively.

Both teams will wrap up the weekend with a 10:00 a.m. doubleheader on Sunday at the Pirate softball field.

- Pirates -