FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 4-2-03

College Softball: No. 13 AASU 1-1, No. 2 GC&SU 0-0

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The No. 13-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State softball squad ended GC&SU’s perfect 2003 season by sweeping the No. 2-ranked Bobcats by identical 1-0 scores in Peach Belt Conference action at Pirate Field on Wednesday afternoon.

In the first game, the top two pitchers in the Peach Belt locked up in a duel that was every bit as good as advertised. Current PBC Pitcher of the Week Jennifer Joiner for GC&SU held the Pirates scoreless through five, while AASU junior Katya Eronina was blanking the Bobcats and matching Joiner pitch for pitch. Joiner’s shutout bid came to an end on DII All-America Stacey Richardson’s solo home run in the bottom of the sixth inning, her eighth of the season, that gave the Pirates (28-6, 5-3 PBC) a 1-0 win in game one. Eronina (16-2) shut out the Bobcats (26-2, 6-2 PBC) on three hits, walking one and tying a season high with 14 strikeouts to get the win, while Joiner (15-1) gave up just two hits and struck out 12 to take the hard-luck loss.

Game two started with the Pirates manufacturing a run in the bottom of the first inning. Freshman shortstop Abby Hodge walked, stole second and scored on junior Kissy Stepanova’s infield single to second base when the ball skidded away from the glove of GC&SU second baseman Nickie Black. Black’s throw to the plate skipped in front of catcher Rebecca Heinicka and Hodge scored what would be the game’s only run. Senior Delaney Warrian (12-4) limited the Bobcats to just one hit, but ran into trouble in the sixth when she hit consecutive batters to put the tying run on second base with one out. Eronina was summoned from the bullpen and struck out two to end the threat and pitched a scoreless ninth to preserve the win and pick up her second save of the year. Cathy Chandler (6-1) took the loss for GC&SU, pitching just two innings and giving up two hits and walking three.

The sweep knocked the Bobcats from the ranks of the unbeaten and gives AASU a 6-5 record against teams ranked in the Top 25 this season.

AASU will be next in action on Thursday, April 3, at USC Aiken for a 2:00 p.m. doubleheader against the Pacers.

- Pirates -