FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 4-17-02

College Softball: No. 6 AASU 4-8, GC&SU 3-5

Release Courtesy of GC&SU Sports Information

MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. - Clutch two-out hitting gave #6 ranked Armstrong Atlantic State University a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader sweep over Georgia College & State University Wednesday afternoon at the Peeler Complex. AASU (35-3, 15-2 PBC) plated a pair of runs in the seventh inning of game one to rally for a 4-3 victory. In game two, the Lady Pirates exploded for four runs with two outs in the ninth inning and held on for the extra-innings 8-5 win.

In game one, AASU dented the scoreboard first in the fourth inning as Lexie Martin drilled an RBI single to put the Lady Pirates up 1-0. Stacey Richardson added a run scoring single in the fifth to give AASU a seemingly comfortable lead with ace Annie Sells on the mound. GC&SU (31-17, 13-6 PBC) rallied in the bottom of the sixth inning as Joni Frei led off with a double and Nickie Black followed with a single. Kristin Hughes stepped in and delivered a three run home run over the left field wall to give the Lady Bobcats a 3-2 lead. The Lady Pirates wouldn't go away in their final at bat however as Annie Sells reached on a fielder's choice and later scored on Stacey Richardson's RBI double to left-center. Richardson would later score following a GC&SU error give the AASU a 4-3 lead. GC&SU had a runner on first in bottom of the seventh but couldn't push the run across and the Lady Pirates held on for the 4-3 win.

Sells (19-2) tossed a complete game allowing 3 runs on 6 hits with 13 strikeouts and zero walks to pick up the win. Jennifer Joiner (12-4) took the loss for GC&SU after allowing 4 runs, 3 earned, on 10 hits while fanning seven batters. Hughes went 2-3 with a double, home run and 3 RBI to lead GC&SU at the plate. Richardson went 2-4 with a double and 2 RBI, while Sells helped her own cause by going 2-4 and scoring twice to pace AASU.

In the second game Kristin Hughes got the Lady Bobcats off to a good start with a solo home run in the first inning, but AASU took advantage of a GC&SU error and scored the tying run on a Lindsay Phillips RBI triple. The Lady Pirates capitalized on another GC&SU error in the fourth inning to plate two more runs, but the Lady Bobcats bounced back with single runs in the fourth and fifth innings to tie the game again at 3-3. Lexie Martin's two-out RBI single in the sixth gave the Lady Pirates a one run lead once again. GC&SU had the bases loaded with nobody out in the bottom of the seventh, but could only plate one run to tie the game. AASU exploded for four runs in the ninth as Stacey Richardson belted a two run double and Diana Corwin later added a two run single. GC&SU scored once in the bottom of the frame, but couldn't make up the difference in the 8-5 loss. AASU scored 7 of its 8 runs in the game with two outs.

Katy Perkins (9-1) picked up the win in relief after allowing 3 runs, 2 earned, on 6 hits in five innings. Cathy Chandler (7-4) took the loss after allowing 8 runs, 5 earned, on 9 hits in a complete game effort. Lexie Martin went 2-3 with 2 RBI, while Diana Corwin went 2-5 with 2 RBI to lead AASU. Kristin Hughes went 2-3, and Brook Harrison went 2-5 with 1 RBI to lead GC&SU.

- Pirates -