FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 2-24-07

College Softball: AASU 13-11, UNC Pembroke 6-9

Release Courtesy of UNC Pembroke Sports Information

PEMBROKE, N.C. – The UNCP fell to Armstrong Atlantic State, 13-6 and 11-9, in a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader held at LRA Softball Field on Saturday afternoon as the Braves fall to 6-8 overall while remaining winless in conference play at 0-4. AASU improves to 4-2 overall and 4-2 in the PBC.

UNCP’s Katie Rubio launched her first home run of the season and the sixth of her career in game two, when she sent a shot over the left field fence to drive in three runs. Rubio was 3-for-6 at the plate today overall.

The Pirates received home runs from Nicole Huddleston and Kari Marsico with Huddleston’s driving in three runs and Marsico’s driving in two. Jessica Strong totaled six hits with six RBI scoring two runs herself.

The Braves will go on to face Lander in another PBC doubleheader on Tuesday beginning at 4 p.m. The Pirates will host Georgia Southwestern on Tuesday with their game time set for 1 p.m.

Game One: Pirates 13, Braves 6

Armstrong struck first in the top of the second inning, scoring a run off of an Amanda Vickers single which scored Ashley Bain. Pembroke would answer in their half of the inning when Anna Williamson popped out to the right-fielder, allowing a run to score from third when the catcher caught Rubio in a rundown and committed a throwing error.

The Pirates would break the 1-1 tie in the fourth inning by scoring three runs on three hits while the Braves committed two errors in the inning. Once again Pembroke would answer in their half of the inning as the Braves put up five runs on four hits. After four complete inning UNCP held a two-run lead at 6-4.

The rest of the game would be all AASU as the Pirates scored nine runs over the next two innings to take game one of the doubleheader, 13-6.

Jessica Waters got the win for the Pirates improving to 1-2 on the season. Waters went five innings giving up six runs on nine hits with two walks. Courtney Tucker finished out the game for AASU throwing two innings and facing seven batters.

Candace Evans (3-3) was credited with the loss for Pembroke going five innings giving up eight runs on 11 hits, walking three batters and striking out two. Mara Thornton came in relief in the sixth inning giving up five runs on five hits.

Game Two: Pirates 11, Braves 9

Game two saw the Braves take an early 1-0 lead on the Pirates off of a Katie Linkous sac bunt which allowed Brittany Berrier to score. AASU responded in the top of the second with a Sara Morris single up the middle, scoring two runs for the Pirates.

UNCP would take the lead in the third inning on Rubio’s blast to left which scored Linkous and Wendi Cochran. Armstrong would tie the game in the fifth with a Jessica Strong singling to drive in two runs. After four-and-a-half innings, the game was tied at 4 runs apiece.

Pembroke would explode in the fifth for five runs on four hits highlighted by an Ashley Kalbach triple to right-center. AASU would score three runs in the sixth and four runs in the seventh to win 11-9.

Waters would earn her second victory of the day in a relief appearance. Evans would be credited with the loss once again giving up seven runs, three earned, in relief. Thornton went five innings giving up four runs off of seven hits. Huddleston started for the Pirates going
four-and-two-thirds innings.

- Pirates -