FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 5-11-06

NCAA South Atlantic Regional: GC&SU 7, Armstrong Atlantic 5

Release Courtesy of Columbus State Sports Information

COLUMBUS, Ga. – Georgia College & State University pushed across three unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth inning here Tuesday to take a 7-5 win over Armstrong Atlantic State in the South Atlantic Regional. GC & SU (41-11) advances in the winners bracket to face Wingate on Friday at 4:30 PM. AASU (37-26) will face Carson-Newman on Friday at 11 AM in an elimination game.

“It is really exciting to get that first win and stay in the winners bracket,” said GC & SU head coach Ginger Miller. “We had not played a game since our conference tournament two weeks ago and we were a little rusty. We have had to work hard all year and I was proud of them for not giving up in this game.”

GC & SU jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning, taking advantage of a hit and an Pirate error. Heather Jones singled home Diedra Baitey with two outs for a 1-0 lead and later scored as Keidra Baitey's fly ball was mishandled in left field for the 2-0 lead. The Lady Bobcats added a run in the third inning as Diana Baruffa singled home Deidra Baitey for a 3-0 advantage.

AASU answered in the top of the fourth with three runs to tie the game. Veronica Castro delivered a run-scoring single, plating pinch-runner Kacey Morrison to make it 3-1. Colleen Markyna then delivered the big blow of the inning, a two-run double to score Jenna Short and pinch-runner Mandi Meador to tie the game.

GC & SU re-took the lead with a run in the bottom of the inning as Brianna Hope delivered an RBI single to score Nikki Smith, making it 4-3. The Pirates then took the lead in the top of the fifth, scoring two runs on five hits. Amber Hunt and Jessica Miranda delivered RBI singles to give the Pirates a 5-4 lead.

“We tried to give them a different look by bringing in Courtney (Tucker) to start and then bring in Heather (Woods) to mix things up with her different style,” said AASU coach Ted Evans. “We just have to score more runs and play defense and pitch well if we expect to win tomorrow.”

Hunt led a 10-hit AASU attack with three hits, while teammate Danielle Bertram chipped in a pair of hits. GC & SU got two RBI each from Baruffa and Heather Jones as the Lady Bobcats were held to five hits by two GC & SU pitchers.

Mandy Chandler (19-3) earned the pitching win in relief of starter Libby Kidd. She went three innings, allowing five hits and one earned run with four strikeouts. Heather Woods suffered the loss, also in relief of starter Courtney Tucker, going 3.2 innings and allowing two hits and four runs, only two of which were earned.

- Pirates -