College Softball: No. 4 (NAIA) Trevecca Nazarene 10-4, AASU 5-3

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 3-19-08

College Softball: No. 4 (NAIA) Trevecca Nazarene 10-4, AASU 5-3

SAVANNAH, Ga. (March 19) – Sarah Nicholson’s first career home run in the top of the seventh inning propelled No. 4-ranked (NAIA) Trevecca Nazarene to a 4-3 win and a collegiate softball doubleheader sweep of host Armstrong Atlantic State on Wednesday afternoon at the AASU Softball Field. The Trojans won game one, 10-5, and remain unbeaten on the 2008 season.

Trevecca Nazarene (14-0) jumped out to a 10-1 lead in game one behind four home runs, two from shortstop Kacey Koonce, and held on for the 10-5 victory. Koonce finished the game with three hits and six RBI, while Cassady Critchfield added a two-run home run and Karli Rush added a solo shot for the Trojans, in support of Stephanie Fisher. Fisher hurled five innings, striking out six, to pick up the win, while Rebekah Lewis (2-2) took the loss for the Pirates, giving up five runs in one inning, including three home runs.

The Pirates (20-15) got solo home runs from Ashley Bain and Sam Floyd in game one.

In game two, Brittiany Johnson shut down the Pirates through five no-hit innings, allowing just one unearned run, as the Trojans built a 3-1 lead. Fisher (6-0) came on in relief in the sixth inning, however, and the Pirates strung together three straight hits, including back-to-back RBI doubles from Kari Marsico and Sara Morris to tie the ballgame up at 3-3. Nicholson led off the top of the seventh with the homer, making a winner out of Fisher, and Johnson came back into the ballgame to work a 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh inning to pick up the save.

Sam Floyd (8-7) took the loss for the Pirates, giving up four runs – three earned – and six hits in seven innings, while striking out seven. Johnson finished the day by hurling eight one-hit innings in the doubleheader, though she did give up her first earned run of the year in the first inning of game one on Natalie Vogler’s RBI single.

AASU returns to action on Saturday, March 22, with a 2:00 p.m. Peach Belt doubleheader at Columbus State.

- Pirates -