FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 3-21-02

College Softball: No. 6 AASU 7-4, Barton 0-2

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The No. 6-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State softball squad swept a doubleheader from Barton College, 7-0 and 4-2, on Thursday afternoon at Pirate Field to run its winning streak to 12 games.

Senior righthander Annie Sells, the Peach Belt Conference's reigning three-time Pitcher of the Week, hurled a three-hut shutout, striking out 13, to improve to 10-1 on the season. Freshman Amanda Kort had the big hit of the day with a three-run home run in the fourth inning, her first of the season, while Sells added a solo shot in the fifth. Jessica Tedder took the loss for the Bulldogs, giving up 10 hits and seven runs in six innings pitched.

In the second game, the Pirates (19-1) took a 1-0 lead on Sells' RBI double in the first that scored Sara Noe, then added two more in the third inning on an error and a Breon Michel RBI single. Sells drove in another run in the fourth inning with an RBI single, but Barton fought back with a two-RBI single from pitcher Kristen Shacklock in the sixth to make the game 4-2. Freshman Katy Perkins pitched a perfect seventh inning to pick up the save and preserve the victory for junior Delaney Warrian (4-0), who gave up two runs and four hits in six innings. Shacklock too the loss for Barton (5-11), giving up seven hits and four runs - three earned - in six innings pitched.

The Lady Pirates return to action on Friday as they travel to Kennesaw, Ga., to compete in the 2002 KSU Owl Classic. AASU will first face Shaw on Friday afternoon at 5:00 p.m. at the Cobb County Softball Complex.

- Pirates -