FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 3-14-07

College Softball: AASU 9 (5 inn.) -5, Kutztown 0-4

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Nicole Huddleston’s RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning lifted the Armstrong Atlantic State softball squad to a 5-4 win and a doubleheader sweep of visiting Kutztown on Wednesday afternoon at the AASU Softball Field. The Pirates took game one of the doubleheader, 9-0.

The Pirates (17-6) led, 4-3, going into the top of the seventh inning of game two, but Kutztown (9-12) center fielder Adriane Willmer led off with a double to right field. A sacrifice moved her to third, and second baseman Kim Morrison drove her home with a single through the right side to tie the game at 4-all. AASU countered in the bottom half of the seventh with Sara Morris, who lined a one-out double down the left field line. A walk to Natalie Vogler brought up Huddleston, who sent a shot to the right center gap that easily scored Morris with the winning run.

The single made a winner out of AASU reliever Courtney Tucker (4-0), who came in relief of Huddleston to throw two innings of two-hit, one-run ball. Kaitlin Arbogast took the loss for the Golden Bears, giving up five runs – three earned – and nine hits in 6 1/3 innings pitched.

In game one, the Pirates jumped all over starter Rachel Weidensaul, putting together 11 hits in the first two innings and plating six runs for an early 6-0 lead. Vanessa Becerra then delivered a two-run home run in a three-run bottom of the third inning to push the Pirates to a 9-0 lead, and that’s where the game ended after the fifth inning. Jessica Waters (8-3) hurled four one-hit innings to pick up the win for the Pirates, while Weidensaul gave up 13 hits and nine runs – five earned – in four innings of work,

Becerra had three hits and three RBI in game one for the Pirates, while Jessica Strong collected four hits in the doubleheader as well for AASU. Kutztown was led by Willmer’s two doubles in game two and Caitlin Hague, who delivered a two-run double in game two as well.

AASU will next travel to Spartanburg, S.C., for USC Upstate’s Fastpitch Classic on Friday, March 16, through Sunday, March 18. Kutztown remains in Savannah to take part in SCAD’s Spring Hit Smash Classic on Thursday, taking on Bluefield State and Missouri Baptist.

- Pirates -