FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 2-14-00

This Week In Armstrong Atlantic State Athletics

Monday, February 14
No Events Scheduled

Tuesday, February 15
No Events Scheduled

Wednesday, February 16
• Women's Basketball at Clayton College & State, 5:30 p.m.
• Men's Basketball at Clayton College & State, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, February 17
• AASU Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, Alee Temple Plaza, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, February 18
• Men's and Women's Tennis vs. West Florida (@ Tifton, Ga.), Noon

Saturday, February 19 (AASU Homecoming)
• Men's and Women's Tennis at Augusta State, 9:00 a.m.
• Softball vs. Edward Waters (Season Opener), 1:00 p.m.
• Baseball at Lander, 1:00 p.m.
• Men's and Women's Tennis at USC Aiken, 2:30 p.m.
• Women's Basketball vs. USC Spartanburg, 5:30 p.m.
• Men's Basketball vs. USC Spartanburg, 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, February 20
• Baseball at Lander (DH), 12:30 p.m.

Men's Basketball (12-10 Overall; 9-3 PBAC)

The Pirate men's basketball team traveled to Aiken, S.C., on Saturday and ruined the Pacers' homecoming, defeating USC Aiken 74-61.

AASU shot 61.7 percent from the field and 50 percent from three-point range as the Pirates picked up their eighth victory out of their last nine outings and improved to 9-3 in the Peach Belt, holding onto second place in the conference.

Junior Robert Campbell led the Pirates with 17 points and six assists, while Cyrille Mainnemarre chipped in 15 points and David Koncul added 13. Koncul hit three three-pointers and made four of four free throws – the Benedictine product has hit his last 24 free throws in a row.

This week, the Pirates travel to Clayton College & State on Wednesday, Feb. 16, for a 7:30 p.m. matchup with the Lakers, then return home on Saturday, February 19 for Homecoming, hosting USC Spartanburg at 7:30 p.m.

Women's Basketball (5-17 Overall; 2-10 PBAC)

The Lady Pirates lost at USC Aiken on Saturday evening, dropping an 87-76 decision to the Lady Pacers and officially becoming eliminated from the PBAC tournament.

Freshman Duanda Ball led the Lady Pirates with 22 points and fellow freshman Dorthell Little chipped in 21 points as AASU shot just 43 percent from the field. The loss dropped AASU to just

1-8 on the road this season and winless in road conference games.

Ball still leads the Lady Pirates in scoring, averaging 13.2 points per game, while sophomore Lexie Martin is averaging 10.2 points per contest.

This week, AASU travels to Morrow, Ga., to take on Clayton College & State on Wednesday, Feb. 16, at 5:30 p.m., then returns to Alumni Arena for Homecoming, hosting USC Spartanburg on Saturday, Feb. 19 at 5:30 p.m.

AASU Athletic Hall of Fame

The AASU Athletic Department will induct six new members into the AASU Athletic Hall of Fame on Thursday, Feb. 17, at 7:30 p.m. at the Alee Temple Plaza. An unveiling of the inductees' plaques will take place at 4:00 p.m. in the Hall of Fame room of the Armstrong Sports Center and is open to members of the media and friends and family of the inductees.

The 2000 induction class includes: Chad Armstrong (Baseball), Bobby Cannon (Baseball/Men's Basketball), Tommy Cannon (Baseball/Men's Basketball), Jennifer Roberson (Softball), Philipp Schertel (Men's Tennis) and Service Citation Award winner Dr. Irving Victor.

Baseball (7-1, 2-1 PBAC, No. 11 – Collegiate Baseball NCAA Division II Coaches' Top 25)

Head coach Joe Roberts' No. 11-ranked AASU baseball team took two of three games at Augusta State over the weekend in both squad's Peach Belt Athletic Conference opener.

AASU gave up three unearned runs in the series opener on Saturday and lost to the Jaguars, 3-0. B.J. Brinkmeier suffered the loss, evening his record to 1-1, despite giving up just six hits and striking out eight in seven innings of work. AASU left nine men on base and committed three errors on the afternoon.

Sunday's doubleheader saw the Pirates' bats come alive as they combined for 17 runs and 18 hits in sweeping the twinbill, 9-2 and 8-3. Senior Joey Williams saw his consecutive scoreless inning streak end at 20 1/3, but he gave up just one run in seven innings to run his record to 3-0 on the season. Junior Jason Ackley picked up his second win of the season in game two, hurling six innings of two-run ball.

Nick Snow went 4-for-9 in the doubleheader with a double and the series' only home run to lead the Pirates offensively.

This week, the Pirates travel to Lander for a weekend PBAC series. AASU will play one game on Saturday, Feb. 19, at 1:00 p.m., then play a doubleheader against the Senators on Sunday, Feb. 20 at 12:30 p.m.

Softball

The AASU softball squad opens its 2000 season with a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader against Edward Waters College on Saturday, Feb. 19 at the Pirate Softball Complex. The Lady Pirates finished with a 40-10 mark last season and were ranked No. 27 in the final NCAA Division II Poll, narrowly missing a bid to the NCAA Regionals.

Men's & Women's Tennis (No. 3 (W), No. 4 (M) - NCAA Division II Coaches' Poll)

The AASU men's squad picked up a key win on the week, defeating Flagler College – the No. 2-ranked team in NAIA – 5-2 on Wednesday afternoon in St. Augustine, Fla., evening its record to 1-1 on the season.

The AASU women's team fell to Flagler, 5-2, but rebounded to take two wins this weekend, blanking PBAC foes Lander and Clayton College & State to even its record at 2-2 on the season.

AASU plays three key matches this weekend, traveling to Tifton, Ga., to face the University of West Florida in a neutral-site matchup on Friday, February 18 at Noon, then heads up the road to Augusta and Aiken to face Augusta State and USC Aiken on Saturday, Feb. 19. All three matches will feature the men's and women's tennis squads.