FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 2-26-05

College Softball: AASU 2-1, Columbus State 1-4

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Danielle Bertram scored the winning run on a wild pitch in the bottom of the sixth inning to give Armstrong Atlantic State a 2-1 win over Columbus State in Peach Belt Conference softball action at the AASU Softball Field on Saturday afternoon. CSU came back with two two-run home runs to take game two of the doubleheader, 4-1.

The Pirates (8-4, 2-2 PBC) trailed 1-0 in the bottom of the third, but Jeanna Short lined a two-out triple to left field and Amber Hunt hit an infield RBI single to tie the game at 1-all. In the sixth inning, the Pirates went ahead for good as Bertram led off the inning with an infield single, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, then stole third base and scored on a wild pitch by CSU starter Randi Rainwater (2-2). AASU reliever Heather Woods (3-1) picked up the win, hurling 3 1/3 innings of one-hit relief, striking out four. Rainwater was the hard-luck loser, giving up just five hits and two runs in six innings pitched.

In the second game, CSU (5-3, 1-3 PBC) jumped on top early with two two-run home runs, the first hit by Toby Moore in the first inning and the second hit by Rainwater in the third inning. Despite trailing 4-0 for most of the game, the Pirates had a chance to win in the bottom of the seventh as the Pirates rallied to load the bases with two out. Carrie Broome rapped an RBI single to left field to score one run, bringing up Jeanna Short, but Short flew out to center field for the final out of the game. Stasha Morton (2-0) hurled 6 2/3 innings of shutout ball, striking out four to pick up the win for the Cougars, while Whitney Propes (3-3) took the loss for the Pirates, giving up four runs and five hits in 4 1/3 innings pitched.

AASU returns to action on Wednesday, March 3, as the Pirates travel to Francis Marion to face the Patriots in a PBC doubleheader at 1:00 p.m.

- Pirates -