FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 4-1-01

College Softball: No. 7 Armstrong Atlantic State 0-5, USC Aiken 8-3

Courtesy of USC Aiken Sports Information

AIKEN, S.C. – USC Aiken (24-15, 4-6 in PBC) used a five-run fourth inning to rout the seventh-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State University Lady Pirates (20-6, 3-3 in PBC) 8-0 in game one of the Peach Belt Conference softball doubleheader Sunday afternoon at Pacer Park. The game ended after five innings due to the eight-run mercy rule. AASU pulled out the 5-3 win in game two.

USCA got on the board in their first at bat posting one run on two walks and one error as Julie Asbell scored on a wild pitch to make it 1-0. The Pacers managed only five hits but took advantage of seven walks, four errors, and two wild pitches amidst wind gusts exceeding 40 miles per hour all afternoon.

After tacking on one more in the third inning, USC Aiken broke the game open with a five-run fourth inning. Allison Sipes led the inning off with a double to left center. She would come around to score following a Jami Cornwell single and back-to-back walks to Asbell and Sarah Estrada. The big blow in the inning was a two-out, bases loaded double by Amber Coates plating all three runners to make it 6-0.

Shawna Clark (8-3) tossed a three-hit shutout in notching her eighth win of the season for the Pacers. Clark walked three and struck out one.

Breon Michel went 2-for-2 to lead the Lady Pirates. Brea Smith was 1-for-1.

Annie Sells (9-4), the 2000 Peach Belt Conference Pitcher of the Year, surrendered eight runs, six earned, on five hits and seven walks in 4.1 innings of work. Sells struck out two in the loss.

In game two, the Lady Pirates appeared poised to return the lopsided defeat to the Pacers posting four runs on five hits in the first inning off Elyse Maviglia. But USCA responded with three in the bottom half of the first to cut the margin to 4-3.

Amy Fox came on in relief of Maviglia to start the second inning and cooled off the hot Lady Pirate bats. Fox scattered five hits over 6.0 innings allowing one run while striking out three. Maviglia (7-9) received the loss for the Pacers.

USCA, however, could not get the offense going failing to plate another run, dropping the 5-3 decision. Cornwell was 2-for-4 with a stolen base and one run scored to lead the Pacers. Bridgette Quimpo was 1-for-3 with two RBI while Natalie Kost was 1-for-3 with one RBI and one run scored.

Sara Noe, Michel, and Michelle Garrett each tallied two hits to lead the Lady Pirates. Mary Morris was 1-for-2 with two RBI on a triple in the first inning.

Julie King (11-2) allowed three runs, all earned, on six hits while walking one and striking out two in the win.