FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 4-6-03

College Baseball: No. 13 AASU 5-5, USC Spartanburg 2-4 (8 inn.)

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Junior Carrie Thompson’s RBI single plated Abby Hodge with the winning run and gave the No. 13-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State Pirates a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader sotball sweep of visiting USC Spartanburg on Sunday afternoon at Pirate Field. The first game score was 5-2, while the second game score was 5-4 in eight innings.

Thompson’s RBI single capped a comeback that saw the Pirates (32-8, 9-5 PBC) trail by one run entering the bottom of the seventh inning. Junior Kissy Stepanova led off the bottom of the seventh with a double, then Jenny Alfirov’s ground ball to second scored Stepanova with the tying run. In the bottom of the eighth, Abby Hodge led off with a single to shortstop, then after a Stacy Oliver sacrifice, the Rifles (23-20, 6-9 PBC) intentionally walked Stacey Richardson and struck out Stepanova to bring up Thompson, who singled home the winning run. The hit made a winner of Delaney Warrian (14-5) who gave up seven hits and four runs – three earned – in eight innings pitched, while Kasey Heron (12-7) was saddled with the loss, giving up five runs – three earned – and seven hits in seven innings pitched.

The first game saw the Pirates jump out to a 4-0 lead, thanks to a three-run home run from Stepanova, and hold on for the 5-2 victory. Katya Eronina improved to 18-3 on the year by giving up just four hits and two runs in seven innings pitched, while striking out 12. Emily Lewis took the loss for USCS, giving up six hits and five runs in six innings pitched.

Thompson had three hits to lead the Pirates in the doubleheader, while Richardson had two hits, including her ninth home run of the season. Karly Justice had three hits to lead the Rifles, and Christine Pirinoli added two hits and two RBI.

AASU will be next in action on Monday, April 7, as the Pirates visit UNC Pembroke for a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader.

- Pirates -