FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 3-26-03

College Softball: No. 10 North Florida 3-5, No. 13 AASU 0-3

SAVANNAH, Ga. – No. 10-ranked North Florida used seventh-inning magic to come away with a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader softball sweep of No. 13 Armstrong Atlantic State on Wednesday afternoon in Savannah, Ga.

In the first game, current NFCA Division II Softball Player of the Week Katya Eronina and UNF’s Cari Chewning locked up in a dandy pitcher’s duel for six innings as each pitcher held the other team scoreless. In the top of the seventh inning, however, North Florida (29-6, 4-0 PBC) used three solo home runs from Kim Graham, Danielle Weaver and Jillian Palmer to go ahead, 3-0, and come away with the victory. Chewning (12-3) limited the Pirates (25-5, 2-2 PBC) to just four hits and walked one while striking out five to pick up the victory, while Eronina (14-2) gave up six hits and struck out seven in taking the loss.

AASU looked as it would reverse its fortunes in game two as the Pirates pushed across a single run in the first on a Kissy Stepanova sacrifice fly. After UNF tied the game up on an RBI single by Cathy Jester in the third, Carrie Thompson put the Pirates up, 3-1, with a two-out two-RBI single in the third. The game stayed that way until the top of the seventh inning when again, the Osprey hitting machine struck. With two on, two out and a two-strike count, Cari Chewning hit a two-RBI triple to center field that tied the game, then Jester again struck with a two-run home run to put the Ospreys up, 5-3, and give them the doubleheader sweep. Alisha Phillips (8-1) got the win, limiting the Pirates to six hits and three unearned runs, while Delaney Warrian (11-3) gave up 11 hits and five runs to take the loss.

North Florida improved to a perfect 8-0 against the Pirates in Savannah with the sweep and takes over sole possession of first place in the Peach Belt Conference.

AASU will be next in action on Saturday, March 29, as the Pirates travel to Francis Marion for a 2:00 p.m. doubleheader against the Patriots in Florence, S.C.

- Pirates -