FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 3-9-05

College Softball: Lander 7 (8 inn.)-2, AASU 4-6

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Amber Hunt's three-run home run in the bottom of the fifth inning propelled the Armstrong Atlantic softball squad to a 6-2 Peach Belt Conference victory over visiting Lander University and a split of Wednesday's doubleheader with the Bearcats at the AASU Softball Field. Lander erased a 3-1 deficit in the seventh inning and won the first game, 7-4, in eight innings.

Hunt's home run brought the Pirates (12-8, 4-7 PBC) from 2-1 down in the fifth inning and put AASU up, 4-2. Carrie Broome added a two-run shot in the sixth inning for insurance as Heather Woods went the distance, allowing five hits and two runs while striking out six in improving to 6-2 on the season. Austin Murray (4-5) took the loss for the Bearcats (17-15, 2-7 PBC), giving up four runs - three earned - and four hits in 4 1/3 innings pitched.

In the first game, AASU took a 3-1 lead as Hunt hit a solo home run in the first inning, then Deanna Beaty added a two-run shot in the bottom of the third. It would stay that way until the top of the seventh, when the Bearcats rallied against AASU starter Adrian Tuttle, loading the bases with nobody out. A fielder's choice at the plate recorded the first out, but then Tracy Cumalander knocked a run-scoring single and Lib Harris drilled a two-run double to plate three runs and put the Bearcats up, 4-3. In the bottom of the seventh, AASU's Amanda Kort hit a leadoff home run to center field to tie the game at 4-4 and send it into extra innings, but Lander tagged Tuttle for three runs in the top of the eighth - highlighted by Cumalander's two-RBI triple. Jenna Kellett (7-3) picked up the win for Lander, giving up five hits and four runs in eight innings, while Tuttle (3-2) took the loss, giving up 13 hits and all seven runs - six earned - in eight innings.

AASU returns to action this weekend as the Pirates travel to Florence, S.C., for the 2005 FMU Patriot Invitational.

- Pirates -