FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 3-18-02

This Week In Armstrong Atlantic State Athletics

Monday, March 18
• Men's Tennis vs. Anderson, 2:00 p.m.

Tuesday, March 19
No Events Scheduled

Wednesday, March 20
• Men's Tennis vs. Auburn-Montgomery, 1:30 p.m.
• Women's Tennis vs. Auburn-Montgomery, 1:30 p.m.

Thursday, March 21
• Softball vs. Barton, 1:00 p.m.
• Men's Tennis at Georgia College & State University, 2:00 p.m.
• Women's Tennis at Georgia College & State University, 2:00 p.m.

Friday, March 22
• Softball at Kennesaw State 2002 Owl Classic (Kennesaw, Ga.)
AASU vs. Shaw, 5:00 p.m.

Saturday, March 23
• Baseball at Columbus State, 3:00 p.m.
• Softball at Kennesaw State 2002 Owl Classic (Kennesaw, Ga.)
AASU vs. Alabama-Huntsville, 10:00 a.m.
AASU vs. Limestone, 2:00 p.m.

Sunday, March 24
• Men's Tennis vs. Rollins, 1:00 p.m.
• Baseball at Columbus State (DH), 1:00 p.m.
• Softball at Kennesaw State 2002 Owl Classic (Kennesaw, Ga.)
AASU vs. Longwood, 9:00 a.m.
AASU vs. Shaw, 11:00 a.m.

Baseball (26-7 Overall, 4-5 Peach Belt, No. 19 Collegiate Baseball Division II)

The No. 19-ranked AASU baseball squad extended its season-high winning streak to 13 games with early week wins over Concord and Bryant, then lost its only game in 2002 Savannah Invitational action on Wednesday to Missouri Western. The Pirates then dropped three games to visiting No. 2-ranked North Florida over the weekend.

AASU opened up the week with by knocking off Concord, 7-1, and Bryant, 2-1, but Missouri Western ended the Pirates' 13-game winning streak by scoring the first 10 runs of the game en route to a 10-7 win. The Pirates rebounded to defeat Concord, 14-3, on Wednesday evening to finish up their action in the 2002 Savannah Invitational with a 13-1 mark.

The Pirates then hosted No. 2-ranked North Florida and played the Ospreys close in game one, leaving 11 runners on base in a 4-2 loss. In the nightcap, UNF starter Adam Horne limited the Pirates to five hits in the 5-0 shutout, then North Florida pounded out 20 hits in a 17-3 win on Sunday, completing the sweep of AASU.

Senior catcher David Harriman, the team's and PBC's leader in batting average with a .444 clip, collected hits in all seven games on the week, extending his season-long hitting streak to 33 games, eclipsing the AASU record held by current assistant coach Calvain Culberson of 32 straight games with at least one hit. Harriman's streak is currently the seventh best in DII history.

This week, the Pirates visit No. 11-ranked Columbus State Cougars for a three-game PBC series on Saturday, March 23 and Sunday, March 24.

Men's Golf (No. 17 NCAA Division II)

The No. 17-ranked AASU golf team will be next in action on March 25-26 at the GC&SU Bobcat Invitational in Milledgeville, Ga.

Softball (17-1, 4-0 Peach Belt, No. 6 NCAA Division II)

The No. 6-ranked AASU softball squad opened its 2002 home schedule by hosting five doubleheaders in five days at Pirate Field. The Lady Pirates swept all five, running its winning streak to 10 games, as AASU improved to 17-1 on the season.

AASU swept Edinboro, 4-0 and 2-1, on Wednesday, then the Pirates opened PBC play with a sweep of USC Aiken, 8-0 and 8-0, on Thursday. Friday the Pirates blanked Catawba, 3-0 and 8-0, and Saturday AASU swept UNC Pembroke, 9-0 and 4-0. Sunday, the Lady Pirates completed the homestand with a 2-1 and 8-0 sweep of St. Andrews.

Senior Annie Sells, the two-time PBC Pitcher of the Week, hurled four shutouts in going 5-0 on the week with an 0.00 ERA. Sells also hit .448 on the week and clubbed four home runs, as did sophomore Stacey Richardson, who hit .542 on the week.

The Lady Pirates will host Barton College in a doubleheader on Thursday, March 21 before traveling to Kennesaw, Ga., for action in the 2002 KSU Owl Invitational on Friday, March 22 through Sunday, March 24.

Men's Tennis (6-5, 3-2 Peach Belt, No. 19 NCAA Division II)

The No. 19-ranked AASU men's tennis team lost its only match of the week, capturing two of three doubles matches against No. 5-ranked Drury, but losing all six singles matches in Drury's 7-2 win over the Pirates.

AASU returns to action this week with three matches, hosting No. 3-ranked NAIA foe Auburn-Montgomery on Wednesday, March 20 at 1:30 p.m., then traveling to Milledgeville for a 2:00 p.m. showdown with No. 33-ranked GC&SU on Thursday, March 21. The Pirates then host defending NCAA DII champion and No. 4-ranked Rollins College on Sunday, March 22 at 1:00 p.m.

Women's Tennis (12-1, 8-0 Peach Belt, No. 3 NCAA Division II)

The No. 3-ranked AASU women's tennis team had the week off, but the Lady Pirates return to action this week with two matches. The Lady Pirates will face top-ranked NAIA foe Auburn-Montgomery on Wednesday, March 20 at 1:30 p.m., then AASU will travel to Milledgeville to take on No. 14-ranked GC&SU on Thursday, March 21 at 2:00 p.m.

- Pirates -