FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 2-25-02

This Week In Armstrong Atlantic State Athletics

Monday, February 25
• Golf hosts Southbridge/AASU Pirate Invitational (Southbridge Golf Club)

Tuesday, February 26
• Women's Tennis vs. Clayton College & State, 2:00 p.m.
• Golf hosts Southbridge/AASU Pirate Invitational (Southbridge Golf Club)
• Women's Basketball at Peach Belt Conference Tournament (Columbus, Ga.)
AASU vs. UNC Pembroke, 3:00 p.m.

Wednesday, February 27
• Men's Basketball at Peach Belt Conference Tournament (Columbus, Ga.)
AASU vs. USC Spartanburg, 7:00 p.m.

Thursday, February 28
• Baseball vs. Kutztown, 2:00 p.m.
• Women's Basketball at Peach Belt Conference Tournament (Columbus, Ga.)

Friday, March 1
• Men's Tennis vs. Tuskeegee, 9:00 a.m.
• Baseball vs. Kutztown, 2:00 p.m.
• Women's Tennis vs. Lynn, 2:00 p.m.
• Men's Tennis vs. Lynn, 2:00 p.m.
• Men's Basketball at Peach Belt Conference Tournament (Columbus, Ga.)
• Softball at UNF Osprey Invitational (Jacksonville, Fla.)

Saturday, March 2
• Baseball vs. Wayne State (Neb.), 2:00 p.m.
• Women's Basketball at Peach Belt Conference Tournament (Columbus, Ga.)
• Men's Basketball at Peach Belt Conference Tournament (Columbus, Ga.)
• Softball at UNF Osprey Invitational (Jacksonville, Fla.)
• Golf at Wolverine South Intercollegiate (Hunter Army GC)

Sunday, March 3
• Women's Tennis vs. Valdosta State, 10:00 a.m.
• Men's Tennis vs. Valdosta State, 10:00 a.m.
• Baseball vs. Gannon, 2:00 p.m.
• Women's Tennis vs. UNC Pembroke, 2:00 p.m.
• Women's Basketball at Peach Belt Conference Tournament (Columbus, Ga.)
• Men's Basketball at Peach Belt Conference Tournament (Columbus, Ga.)
• Softball at UNF Osprey Invitational (Jacksonville, Fla.)
• Golf at Wolverine South Intercollegiate (Hunter Army GC)

Baseball (13-3 Overall, 4-2 Peach Belt, No. 6 Collegiate Baseball Division II)

The 2002 AASU baseball squad hosted the 2002 Memorial Health Diamond Classic, in conjuction with the Savannah Sand Gnats, Memorial Health and the Greater Savannah Sports Council at historic Grayson Stadium and won two out of three games in their final at-bat, including a thrilling 7-6 win over the University of Georgia in 11 innings.

Friday, the Pirates opened play in the Classic by jumping out to a 4-0 lead on the University of Connecticut, then extending the lead to 8-4 via the longball as senior Kirk Nordness launched two two-run home runs. The Huskies battled back and tied the game at 8-all with two solo shots in the ninth inning, but senior David Harriman led off the bottom of the 10^th inning with a home run - his second consecutive walk-off home run - to give the Pirates the victory.

AASU played North Carolina on Saturday and after spotting the Tar Heels a 4-2 lead, the Pirates climbed back on top in the third inning with three runs and held the lead until the fifth inning, when Ron Braun launched a two-run home run to give UNC the lead for good in the 10-6 win.

In the Classic finale on Sunday, the Pirates took on in-state rival Georgia for the third time in school history and came out hot, taking a 3-1 lead in the third inning. The Bulldogs would score five straight runs to push their advantage to 6-3, but Harriman again provided the offense, launching a three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game 6-all, where it would stay until the 11^th inning. Chris Boaen singled to lead off the inning, then after Rob Mills was hit by a pitch, freshman Bryan Wilson laid down a bunt that Georgia catcher Clint Sammons threw over the head of the third baseman, allowing Boaen to score the winning run. Junior Jeremy Olson shut down the Bulldogs in relief, hurling five innings of one-hit ball, striking out six for his first win of the season and the Pirates' first-ever win over the Bulldogs.

This week, the Pirates begin hosting the Savannah Invitational on Thursday, Feb. 28. AASU will play Kuztown on Thursday and Friday at 2:00 p.m., then the Pirates will take on Wayne State on Saturday and Gannon on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. each day.

Men's Basketball (12-14 Overall, 8-11 Peach Belt)

The Armstrong Atlantic State men's basketball team wrapped up the regular season by splitting two games on the week, losing 75-53 at GC&SU but routing Kennesaw State, 80-55.

The Pirates shot just 24 percent, including 0-for-10 from three-point range, in the loss at GC&SU, but AASU rebounded on Senior Day against the KSU Owls, hitting 50 percent from the floor in the 25-point victory, the Pirates' fourth in their last five tries against Kennesaw State. Senior Donta Humphries recorded AASU's first triple-double in Peach Belt Conference play with 10 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, while senior Mick Jordan hit for a game-high 19 points in his final home game as a Pirate. Senior Will Winn had 10 points, including two alley-oop dunks, and senior Bart Westgeest grabbed 10 rebounds.

AASU next travels to Columbus, Ga., for the PBC Tournament and the Pirates will face USC Spartanburg in the opening round on Wednesday, February 27 at 7:00 p.m. A win there and AASU will then face tournament host Columbus State on Friday evening at 7:00 p.m.

Men's Golf (No. 14 NCAA Division II)

The Pirates will play in two Savannah tournament this week, hosting their own AASU/Southbridge Invitational on Monday and Tuesday, then taking part in the Wolverine South Invitational at Hunter Army GC on Saturday and Sunday. The tournaments will be the first two spring tournaments for the No. 14-ranked Pirates.

Women's Basketball (9-17 Overall, 7-12 Peach Belt)

The Lady Pirates wrapped up the regular season, splitting two games on the week with a heartbreaking loss at GC&SU, 68-65, but coming away with a 75-68 win over Kennesaw State.

Wednesday evening, the Lady Bobcats took a 20-point lead, 68-48, with 5:52 remaining in the second half, but the Lady Pirates would go on a 17-0 run to cut the lead to three with 30 ticks left on the clock. AASU would have two tries for a game-tying three-pointer, but could not get one to fall. Zandrique Cason led the Lady Pirates with 21 points and 13 rebounds.

Saturday, on Senior Day, the Lady Pirates ended four years of frustration against Kennesaw State, picking up their first win over the Lady Owls since the 1996-97 season - a span of 11 games - in the 75-68 decision. Junior Shaletra Hodge scored a season-high 17 points to lead four Lady Pirates in double figures, while senior Lexie Martin added 12 points, including the final four points of the game to seal the victory, in her final home game at Alumni Arena.

The Lady Pirates next travel to Columbus, Ga., for the PBC Tournament where AASU will face UNC Pembroke in the opening round on Tuesday, February 26 at 3:00 p.m. A win there and AASU will then face Kennesaw State at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday afternoon.

Men's Tennis (3-3, 2-2 Peach Belt, No. 19 NCAA Division II)

The No. 19-ranked AASU men's tennis team won two out of three matches on the week, defeating No. 37-ranked Augusta State, 6-3, and No. 40-ranked USC Aiken, 6-3, to pick up their first two Peach Belt Conference wins of the season. AASU then lost to No. 7-ranked West Florida, 8-1, in a neutral site match in Macon on Sunday.

The Pirates next host Tuskeegee and No. 12-ranked Lynn University on Friday, March 1, then AASU takes on No. 2-ranked Valdosta State on Sunday, March 3.

Women's Tennis (8-0, 5-0 Peach Belt, No. 5 NCAA Division II)

The No. 5-ranked women's tennis team defeated its second Top 5-ranked opponent this week, knocking off No. 3-ranked West Florida, 6-3, and also picking up 9-0 wins over Augusta State and USC Aiken to run its record to 8-0 on the year.

The Lady Pirates host No. 10-ranked Clayton College & State on Tuesday, February 26, then AASU will face the No. 1-ranked Lynn University Lady Knights on Friday, March 1 at 2:00 p.m. AASU also hosts No. 35 Valdosta State and No. 32 UNC Pembroke on Sunday, March 3.

Softball (2-0, 0-0 Peach Belt, No. 13 NCAA Division II)

The AASU softball squad opened the 2002 season with a doubleheader sweep of Northwood on Sunday afternoon, winning 5-0 and 9-1 in West Palm Beach, Fla.

Senior Annie Sells fired a two-hit shutout in the first game, striking out 11 batters, while freshman Katy Perkins hurled a complete-game four-hitter in the second contest for her first collegiate victory.

The Pirates travel to Jacksonville, Fla,, to take part in the 2002 UNF Osprey Invitational from Friday, March 1 through Sunday, March 3.

- Pirates -