FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 3-1-06

College Softball: AASU 11-2, UNC Pembroke 3-6

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Armstrong Atlantic split a Peach Belt Conference softball doubleheader with UNC Pembroke in the Pirates’ home opener on Wednesday, March 1, at the AASU Softball Field. The Pirates slugged 13 hits and 11 runs to take game one, 11-3, but UNC Pembroke’s Candace Evans shut down AASU in game two, hurling a complete game in a 6-2 victory.

The Pirates (5-5, 2-2 PBC) scored at least one run in all five innings as they touched UNC Pembroke pitcher Laura Goldstein for 13 hits in 4 2/3 innings, ending the game with two runs in the bottom of the fifth that made the score 11-3. Freshman Ashley Bain had a monster game, going 4-for-4 with three RBI, her first collegiate home run and a double, while Amber Hunt and Jeana Short added two hits apiece. Rachel Koening-Eng (4-1) got the win, hurling four innings of three-hit, one-run ball and even helped her own cause with a solo home run in the contest. Goldstein (3-2) had a solo home run for the Braves, but took the loss in the circle, giving up all 11 runs – nine earned – in the contest.

The second game saw the Braves use the longball to take a 6-2 win and the split. Kelly Rubio erased an early 1-0 AASU advantage with a two-run home run in the fifth inning to put the Braves up, 2-1, then Brittany Berrier’s grand slam home run off of Pirate reliever Pam Bykowski in the top of the seventh added plenty of insurance, making the lead 6-1. AASU scratched across a run in the bottom of the seventh, but could not bring the tying run to the plate. Candace Evans (3-4) went the distance for the Braves, giving up just five hits and two runs in seven innings for the win, while Heather Woods (1-3) took the loss for the Pirates, giving up five hits and five earned runs in 6 2/3 innings pitched.

AASU returns to action on Friday, March 3, as the Pirates take on Rollins at 8:00 p.m. in the Eckerd College Invitational in St. Petersburg, Fla. UNC Pembroke is next in action on Friday as well against Presbyterian at 6:00 p.m. at the USC Upstate Spartan Classic.

- Pirates -