FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 4-9-03

College Softball: No. 20 AASU 6-0, No. 24 Kennesaw State 0-9

Release Courtesy of Kennesaw State Sports Information

KENNESAW, Ga. – Under ominous clouds and a constant rain, the Owls erupted for nine runs in the second game of a twin bill to split a doubleheader with Armstrong Atlantic on Wednesday afternoon at the East Cobb Complex. The Owls 9-0 win followed a 4-0 shutout in the opener.

Through a steady rain in the nightcap, Kennesaw State scored four times in the bottom of the first inning against Pirate hurler Delaney Warrian. Tara Hrycuik had the big blow in the inning when she ripped a two-run home run over the left field wall to make the score 4-0.

After getting only two hits in the opener, Amy Middleton and Jen Hunt got things going for KSU as they opened the game up with back-to-back singles.

After a walk to Cambria McKay, Jenille Edwards drove in the first run of the game with a grounder to shortstop, Kate Winstel then knocked in the Owls second run with a sacrifice fly to center field scoring Hunt.

McKay lined a two-run double to the gap in right center field in the bottom of the second inning to make the score 6-0.

Hrycuik was in control throughout for Kennesaw State. The sophomore hurler struck out a season-high ten batters while scattering three hits over five innings to raise her record to 9-2.

The Owls ended the game early when they closed out the afternoon with three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. With the score 7-0 and the bases loaded, Edwards doubled into the left field corner scoring Lori Cassell and Amy Middleton to up the score to 9-0.

Junior right-hander Katya Eronina was once again dominating for Armstrong Atlantic. The Moscow, Russia native raised her record to 19-3 as she held the Owls to just two hits and struck out fifteen batters in a 4-0 win in the opener. Entering the game with a Peach Belt Conference high 235 strikeouts, Eronina was masterful in shutting down the Owls offense.

After Stacey Richardson launched a mammoth two-run homer in the top of the first inning to give the Pirates a 2-0 lead. Armstrong Atlantic scored in each of the first three innings of Kennesaw State Janet Kearns and led 4-0.

The Owls had one chance against Eronina when they loaded the bases in the bottom of the fourth inning. McKay sandwiched a single between a pair of walks to Cassell and Edwards but Eronina came back to strike out Kate Winstel and Kelly Lamb to squelch the rally.

Hrycuik led off the fifth inning with a double of the top of the wall in left center field. The Owls, however, could not muster anything more as Eronina struck out Valerie Herron, Hunt and Middleton to retire the side.

Eronina and Richardson each had two hits to lead an eight-hit Pirate attack.

Lisa Macki relieved Kearns in the fourth inning and threw three innings of scoreless relief. The southpaw fromLolo, Montana allowed just two hits while striking out five batters and walking just one batter.

The Owls are back in action this Friday afternoon when they will play USC Aiken in a makeup game at 1:00 PM at the East Cobb Complex.

- Pirates -