FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 4-13-03

College Softball: No. 20 AASU 8-3, Lander 1-1 (8 inn.)

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Junior Lindsay Phillips launched a two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning – her first home run of the season – to give the No. 20-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State Pirates a 3-1 win and a doubleheader sweep of Peach Belt Conference foe Lander on Sunday afternoon at Pirate Field. AASU won the first game of the double-dip, 8-1.

The Pirates (35-9, 12-6 PBC) were forced to play extra innings thanks in large part to stellar defensive play by the Senators (28-18, 2-13 PBC). Right fielder Keri Davis and center fielder Kristen Griebel each threw out potential go-ahead runs at the plate and kept the game at 1-all, as Griebel’s assist came in the bottom of the seventh inning. In the eighth, however, the Pirates’ Carrie Thompson walked to lead off the inning. After Jenny Alfirov flied out to left field, Phillips launched her second career game-winning home run to left field, making a winner out of junior Katya Eronina (21-3), who came in relief of Delaney Warrian and limited the Senators to one hit in five shutout innings, striking out eight. Her called strikeout of Mikal Reames in the sixth was Eronina’s 268th strikeout of the season, setting a new AASU single-season record. Sheena Mason (12-5) went the distance for the Senators, giving up eight hits and three runs in 7 1/3 innings pitched, while walking seven.

The first game saw the Pirates plate six runs in the second inning to take an early 6-0 lead and win going away, 8-1. Stacey Richardson launched a three-run home run in the second, her 11th home run of the year, as the Pirates collected 11 hits in the contest and made a winner out of Eronina, who gave up just two hits and one unearned run in the complete-game performance, striking out 13. Ashley Tomlinson (5-2) took the loss for Lander, surrendering six hits and six runs in two innings.

Thompson had four hits in the doubleheader to lead the Pirates, while Tomlinson and Griebel each had two hits to lead the Senators.

AASU will be next in action on April 18-20 at the Peach Belt Conference Championships in Aiken, S.C. Lander closes out their regular season with a 5:00 p.m. doubleheader against Claflin on Tuesday, April 15.

- Pirates -