FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 5-13-06

NCAA South Atlantic Regional: Armstrong Atlantic 4, Columbus State 2

Release Courtesy of Columbus State Sports Information

COLUMBUS, Ga. – Armstrong Atlantic State scored single runs in four different innings here Saturday, including a solo home run from Ashley Bain in the fifth, and held on to down top-seeded and host team Columbus State 4-2 in the South Atlantic Regional. The game was delayed some four hours due to rain showers in Columbus. AASU (39-26) advances to face Wingate in an elimination game later Saturday night. CSU ends its season at 39-15.

Bain delivered the first run scoring hit for the Pirates in the first inning, singling home Danielle Bertram to make it 1-0. Bertram doubled in a run in the second, scoring pinch runner Mandi Meador who ran for Veronica Castro. Castro had singled to lead off the frame.

"We hit Rainwater pretty well and when Morton came into the game, we decided to play small ball," said AASU coach Ted Evans. "We felt we would play aggressively tonight and really had confidence. We expect an outright battle of the bats against Wingate later tonight."

CSU got its first run in the third when Stasha Morton delivered a pinch-hit RBI single to score Carrie Mills. CSU would leave the bases loaded in the inning as Tamela Bell grounded to third to end the rally.

AASU added single runs in each of the fourth and fifth innings. Bertram plated Meador with a sacrifice fly in the fourth and Bain hit a line-drive rocket well over the left-field wall in the fifth for a 4-1 lead.

CSU plated another run in the sixth as Danielle Aszman blooped a single down the left field line to score Amber Lanier who had doubled with one out. CSU left a total of eight runners on base in the game, including two in the fifth when the Lady Cougars had the bases loaded with one out.

"We had a great regular season and didn't play that well in the conference tournament but managed to win it," said CSU coach Tiffany Tootle. "We just didn't have a strong post-season and that was something we were all hoping and praying for. The chips just didn't fall our way."

Randi Rainwater took the loss after pitching the first 3.1 innings. She allowed six hits and three earned runs. Stasha Morton finished the game, going 2.2 innings and allowing two hits and one earned run.

Rachel Koening-Eng earned the win, allowing two earned runs on five hits. She walked four and did not fan a hitter.

Morton led CSU at the plate, going 2-3 with a double and an RBI. Danielle Bertram and Ashley Bain each went 2-3 with two RBI for the Pirates.

AASU will meet Wingate somewhere around 10:30 PM tonight with the winner moving on to face the loser of the two unbeaten teams - GC & SU and Lenoir-Rhyne - at 2 PM on Sunday.

- Pirates -