FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 4-9-06

College Softball: USC Upstate 10-4, Armstrong Atlantic 6-6

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Junior Amber Hunt’s three-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning gave Armstrong Atlantic a 6-4 victory in game two of a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader with visiting USC Upstate on Sunday afternoon and earning the Pirates a split on the day. USC Upstate took game one, 10-6.

The home run by Hunt followed a walk by Danielle Bertram to lead off the seventh inning, then a sacrifice by Deanna Beaty resulted in an error as second baseman Katie Adams couldn’t handle the throw from first baseman Ashleigh Beck, putting runners on first and second with nobody out and USC Upstate clinging to a 4-3 lead. Hunt, however, hit the first pitch she saw from reliever Kasey Heron over the left field wall for the game-winning shot – the fifth straight game that Hunt has hit a home run, tying a Peach Belt Conference record held by Cambria McKay of Kennesaw State (2003).

The shot also came after the Pirates had scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth to erase a 3-0 deficit against the Spartans. Jenn Whited had no-hit the Pirates through five innings, but AASU touched her for three runs on RBI singles from Ashley Bain and Angela Long and a sacrifice fly by Danielle Bertram. USC Upstate went ahead briefly in the top of the seventh on Shay Slater’s sacrifice fly, but the Pirates rallied to make a winner out of Heather Woods (10-7), who hurled seven innings, giving up eight hits and four runs – two earned – while striking out five. Heron (9-6) took the loss in relief, giving up two runs – one earned – to the two batters she faced.

It was USC Upstate’s late-inning rally in game one that made a winner out of Heron in relief as the Spartans broke a 5-all tie with five runs over the last two innings in taking the 10-6 win. Heron hurled four innings of three-hit ball, giving up two runs – one earned – in picking up the win as the Spartans pounded out 12 hits and 10 runs, led by Heidi Gibbs’ 3-for-4 day with two doubles and three RBI. Courtney Tucker (8-4) took the loss in relief for the Pirates, giving up seven hits and five runs – four earned – in 6 2/3 innings pitched. Hunt contributed a two-run home run and Beaty had two hits and two RBI for the Pirates in game one.

The Pirates return to action on Tuesday, April 11, as they host Valdosta State in a non-conference doubleheader at 2:00 at Pirate Field. USC Upstate is next in action on Friday, April 14, as they host UNC Pembroke for a PBC doubleheader at 2:00 p.m.

- Pirates -