FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 3-26-01

This Week In Armstrong Atlantic State Athletics

Monday, March 26
• Golf at Georgia College & State Bobcat Invitational (Greensboro, Ga.)

Tuesday, March 27
• Golf at Georgia College & State Bobcat Invitational (Greensboro, Ga.)

Wednesday, March 28
• Men's Tennis at North Florida, 2:00 p.m.
• Women's Tennis at North Florida, 2:00 p.m.

Thursday, March 29
No Events Scheduled

Friday, March 30
• Men's Tennis vs. Florida Gulf Coast, 2:00 p.m.

Saturday, March 31
• Men's Tennis vs. Lander, 2:00 p.m.
• Softball at Augusta State, 2:00 p.m.
• Baseball at Kennesaw State, 3:00 p.m.

Sunday, April 1
• Softball at USC Aiken, 2:00 p.m.
• Baseball at Kennesaw State (DH), Noon

Baseball (24-10 Overall, 7-8 Peach Belt Conference)

The Pirates went 3-2 on the week, taking two games in Savannah Invitational action over Hillsdale and Kutztown, but dropping two of three at No. 3-ranked North Florida over the weekend.

Tuesday afternoon, the Pirates used three-run home runs from juniors Kirk Nordness and Pat Daly to power past Hillsdale, 13-2. For Daly, it was his first home run of his three-year career at AASU.

On Friday, the Pirates erased a 3-0 first-inning deficit against Kutztown and went on to the 6-4 win over the Golden Bears. Friday's game was the conclusion of the 2001 Savannah Invitational that featured 12 teams and 45 games in 24 days. AASU finished the Invitational with an 11-1 record.

Over the weekend, the Pirates split Saturday's doubleheader at No. 3-ranked North Florida, losing the first game, 9-6, but winning the second game, 13-10, in eight innings. AASU lost the final game on Sunday after a five-hour rain delay, 21-5. The Pirates pounded out 45 hits in the weekend series at North Florida and are hitting .355 as a team.

This week the Pirates travel to Kennesaw State for a three-game series with the Owls, beginning with a single game on Saturday, March 31 at 3:00 p.m., then concluding with a doubleheader on Sunday, April 1 at Noon.

Softball (19-3 Overall, 2-0 Peach Belt Conference, No. 15 NFCA Division II Top 25 Poll)

The No. 15-ranked AASU softball team put together another 6-0 on the week, sweeping a non-conference doubleheader from Kutztown on Thursday, then going 4-0 at the 2001 Kennesaw State Invitational over the weekend.

The Pirates swept a doubleheader from Kutztown, 4-3 and 4-0, on Thursday. Senior Julie King hurled a two-hit shutout, striking out six, in the second game, while Annie Sells endured a wild game to pick up the win in the first contest, striking out 15 batters in the process.

Over the weekend, the Pirates traveled to Kennesaw, Ga., for action in the 2001 KSU Owl Invitational. AASU picked up wins over No. 10-ranked Alabama-Huntsville, 2-1, and No. 14-ranked St. Mary's (Texas), 3-1. AASU also picked up shutout wins over Kutztown (6-0) and Longwood (1-0) as Julie King ran her consecutive scoreless inning streak to 29 1/3 with the two wins.

This week, the Pirates travel to Augusta State on Saturday, March 31 for a 2:00 p.m. PBC doubleheader with the Jaguars, then AASU plays at USC Aiken on Sunday, April 1 at 2:00 p.m. in another PBC doubleheader.

Men's Tennis (10-2 Overall, 5-0 Peach Belt Conference, No. 6 ITA Division II Rankings)

The No. 6-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State men's tennis team, coming off of two of three wins in Hawaii over spring break week, returns to action this week with three matches.

This week, AASU travels to face No. 19-ranked North Florida on Wed., March 28 at 2:00 p.m., then the Pirates return home to play Florida Gulf Coast on Fri., March 30 at 2:00 p.m. and No. 1-ranked and eight-time defending NCAA DII champion Lander University on Sat., March 31 at 2:00 p.m.

Women's Tennis (Women: 11-3 Overall, 6-1 Peach Belt Conference, No. 15 ITA Division II)

The No. 15-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State women's tennis team, coming off of two of three wins in Hawaii over spring break week, returns to action this week with a key Peach Belt Conference match on Wednesday.

AASU travels to No. 4-ranked North Florida on Wed., March 28 in Jacksonville, Fla., at 2:00 p.m.

Golf

The Armstrong Atlantic State men golf team returns to action this week at the Bobcat Invitational, hosted by Georgia College & State University, in Greensboro, Ga., from March 25-27. The Pirates begin a stretch of three tournaments in four weeks as AASU gears up for its first Peach Belt Conference tournament appearance since reviving the sport this season.

Women's Track and Field

Senior Nikki Garland, attempting to return to the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships, competed in the FSU Relays this weekend and finished third in the 800 meters in a time of 2:12.71.

Garland will continue her quest to qualify for the NCAA Championships this weekend at the Emory Invitational in Atlanta, Ga.