FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 4-14-01

College Softball: AASU 7-7, No. 13 Columbus State 0-1

SAVANNAH, Ga. – AASU sent 11 hitters to the plate in a seven-run fourth inning to win the second game, 7-1, and sweep a Peach Belt Conference softball doubleheader from No. 13-ranked Columbus State on Saturday afternoon. AASU won the first game, 7-0.

The Pirates (28-10, 9-7 PBC) used power and defense to win the first game from Columbus State (31-12, 9-9 PBC), 7-0. Junior Annie Sells (14-5) scattered seven hits and used two double plays from the defense to shut out the Cougars, then teamed with senior Nicole Weirauch to provide the power. Sells hit a solo home run to lead off the third inning, then Weiruach added a solo home run one out later to give AASU a 3-0 lead, then Weirauch cleared the bases with a grand slam shot off of CSU's Angela Griffin (16-5) in the fourth inning. Griffin gave up 10 hits and seven runs in four innings to take the loss for the Cougars.

In the second game, the Cougars took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on Jennifer Lohse's two-out RBI single, then held the lead until the fourth inning. Sells led off the inning with her second home run of the day, then after walks to Crystal McCracken and Weirauch, Breon Michel doubled home McCracken to make the lead 3-1. CSU hurler Amanda Burson (14-7) retired the next two hitters, but Ansley Paschal's RBI single drove home Weirauch, then Sara Noe's single to third base drove home Michel and the errant throw allowed Paschal to advance to third. Tesh Wiewel then doubled to center field, driving home two more runs, and Sells completed the scoring with an RBI single. Junior Julie King (14-5) gave up six hits and one run in seven innings to get the win for the Pirates, while Burson gave up eight hits and seven runs – six earned – to take the loss.

The Pirates are next in action on Wednesday, April 18 as they host USC Spartanburg at 2:00 p.m. for Senior Day as six AASU seniors play their last home games at Pirate Field.

- Pirates -