FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 4-7-07

College Softball: AASU 5-3, USC Aiken 2-4

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The Armstrong Atlantic State softball squad split a Peach Belt doubleheader with visiting USC Aiken on Saturday at the AASU Softball Field. The Pirates jumped out to a 4-0 lead in game one, holding on for a 5-2 win, while USC Aiken rode its own 4-0 lead to a 4-3 win in game two.

The Pirates (24-12, 9-7 PBC) used a two-run home run from Jessica Strong and back-to-back doubles from Vanessa Becera and Ashley Bain to build a 4-0 lead by the fourth inning in game one. USC Aiken (30-19, 8-11 PBC) squeezed home a run in the fifth on an Ashley Dyches sacrifice bunt, but the Pirates stole a run in the sixth on a double steal that brought Strong home to make the score 5-1. Keshia Venable led off the top of the seventh with a solo home run to bring the Pacers to within three, but Jessica Waters held the Pacers off in the seventh to pick up the win, hurling seven innings of six-hit ball, giving up just two runs to improve to 12-5 on the season. USC Aiken hurler Samantha Blair (14-13) took the loss for the Pacers, giving up eight hits and five runs in six innings pitched.

Game two saw the Pacers take build a 4-0 lead by the third inning, then hold off a late Pirate charge. USC Aiken scored a single run in the first on an RBI single by Jessica Strickland, then two in the second thanks to two Tucker throwing errors, an RBI single by Sherelle Brooks and a hit batter. With two runs already in and the bases loaded, Nicole Huddleston came on in relief of starter Courtney Tucker and retired Strickland on a 5-2-3 double play, getting the Pirates out of the inning.  An Amber Driggers home run off of Huddleston in the top of the fourth pushed the Pacer lead to 4-0.

AASU would rally in the sixth with three runs on an error by Driggers and an RBI single by Becerra, but Toni Flessate closed out the Pirates, striking out Amanda Vickers with the tying run on second in the seventh to earn the split. Flessate (10-4) pitched a four-hitter, giving up three unearned runs and striking out four to pick up the win. Tucker (6-3) gave up three runs – two earned – in an inning plus to pick up the loss. Brooks finished the doubleheader with four hits for the Pacers, while Driggers had three hits, including the solo home run. AASU was led by Tori Richter’s three hits and Strong’s two hits and two RBI. 

AASU returns to action on Monday, April 9, with a 1:00 p.m. Peach Belt doubleheader at North Georgia.

- Pirates -