FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 3-15-06

College Softball: AASU 11 (5 inn.)-0, Kutztown 0-1

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The Armstrong Atlantic State softball squad split a non-conference doubleheader with Kutztown on Wednesday afternoon, winning the first game, 11-0, but dropping the second game, 1-0.

The Pirates (20-9) pounded out 14 hits in the first game, picking up an 11-0 win in five innings over the Golden Bears (5-5). Deana Beaty notched her second career grand slam home run and drove in five runs in the contest, while Amber Hunt collected her team-leading sixth home run of the season and drove in three runs. Sophomore Heather Woods (3-3) hurled five innings of shutout ball, giving up just four hits while striking out three to pick up the win for AASU. Stephanie Denlinger gave up seven hits and five runs – two earned – in 1 2/3 innings to take the loss for the Golden Bears.

The second game was the complete opposite of the first as Kutztown’s Rachel Weidensaul and AASU’s Courtney Tucker hooked up in a great pitchers’ duel. Tucker gave up a one-out double to Krista Cameron with a runner on first in the top of the first inning. The cutoff throw got away from the Pirates, though, allowing Cameron to score an unearned run. That run would hold up for the rest of the game as Weidensaul spun a four-hit shutout, striking out four, to pick up the victory. AASU had a chance to tie in the seventh with runners on the corners and one out, but Jeana Short flew out to short left and Roni Castro flew out to right to end the game. Tucker (5-2) took the hard-luck loss, giving up six hits and one unearned run while striking out three.

Hunt finished the doubleheader with four hits and four RBI to lead the Pirates at the plate, while Kim Morrison led Kutztown with three hits in the doubleheader, including scoring the game-winning run in game two.

AASU is next in action at the FSC Invitational in Lakeland, Fla., on Friday, March 17 as the Pirates face Tampa at 3:00 p.m.

- Pirates -