FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 3-4-02

This Week In Armstrong Atlantic State Athletics

Monday, March 4
• Baseball vs. Wayne State (Neb.), 2:00 p.m.

Tuesday, March 5
• Baseball vs. Northwest Missouri State, 2:00 p.m.

Wednesday, March 6
• Baseball vs. Gannon, 2:00 p.m.
• Women's Tennis vs. Brenau (Jacksonville, Fla.), 2:00 p.m.

Thursday, March 7
• Baseball vs. Grand Valley State, 2:00 p.m.

Friday, March 8
• Women's Tennis vs. Columbus State, 2:00 p.m.
• Men's Tennis vs. Columbus State, 2:00 p.m.
• Softball at Francis Marion Invitational (Florence, S.C.)

Saturday, March 9
• Women's Tennis vs. UNC Pembroke, 11:00 a.m.
• Men's Tennis vs. Florida Southern, Noon
• Baseball vs. Hillsdale, 2:00 p.m.
• Softball at Francis Marion Invitational (Florence, S.C.)

Sunday, March 10
• Baseball vs. SIU Edwardsville, 2:00 p.m.
• Women's Tennis vs. Ferris State, 2:00 p.m.
• Softball at Francis Marion Invitational (Florence, S.C.)

Baseball (17-3 Overall, 4-2 Peach Belt, No. 6 Collegiate Baseball Division II)

The No. 6-ranked AASU baseball squad began action in the 2002 Savannah Invitational with two wins over Kutztown and a victory over Gannon, extending its record to 17-3 on the season.

On Thursday afternoon, the Pirates got past Kutztown, 9-2, as junior Mike Roga hurled five innings, giving up just one earned run to pick up his fifth win of the season. Senior Kirk Nordness collected three hits, while freshman Matt Stephens drove in three runs on two hits, including a two-run double.

Friday, the Pirates and the Golden Bears hooked up in an offensive showcase, won by the Pirates, 14-12. Senior David Harriman collected four hits and drove in four runs as every Pirate starter collected at least one hit in the ballgame. Sophomore Chris Dentler collected three hits and Nordness hit his team-leading eighth home run of the season for the Pirates to help make a winner out of junior Jeremy Olson, who hurled two shutout innings to pick up the victory.

Saturday's game against Wayne State was postponed due to rain, so Sunday the Pirates took on Gannon and routed the Knights, 19-5, behind a 21-hit attack by the Pirates. Sophomores Ryan Chromek and Stacy Bennett collected four hits apiece, as well as David Harriman, while junior Chris Boaen slammed two home runs for the Pirates. Freshman Brent Jackson picked up his first collegiate win by hurling three shutout innings, striking out six.

This week, the Pirates host Wayne State in a makeup game of Saturday's rainout on Monday at 2:00 p.m., then AASU takes on Northwest Missouri State on Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. and Gannon at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday.

The Pirates will then play a double-dip on Thursday as they take on Grand Valley State at 2:00 p.m., then head over to Grayson Stadium for a 6:00 p.m. game with Gannon. Saturday, the Pirates will play Hillsdale at 2:00 p.m., then Sunday AASU will face SIU Edwardsville at 2:00 p.m.

Men's Basketball (13-15 Overall, 8-11 Peach Belt)

The Armstrong Atlantic State men's basketball team finished the 2001-2002 season by advancing to the quarterfinals of the Peach Belt Conference tournament, defeating USC Spartanburg in the opening round, 68-60, but falling to the hometown Columbus State Cougars, 72-68, on Friday evening.

The Pirates got a game-high 20 points from senior Mick Jordan, including 18 in the second half, as the Pirates picked up their ninth straight win over the Rifles, 68-60. AASU, which has matched up against USC Spartanburg in the first round of the PBC tournament three of the last four seasons, forced 22 Rifle turnovers while getting good production from Jordan and senior Donta Humphries, who collected 12 points and dished out six assists. Senior Will Winn also chipped in 12 points.

On Friday evening, the Pirates had the tough task of facing the hometown Columbus State Cougars and jumped out to an early lead and had a 57-44 lead with 13 minutes left in the game, but the Cougars rallied to tie the game and take the lead, 70-64, late in the ballgame. AASU had five players reach double figures, led by Willard Winn's game-high 18 points. Wood scored 15 points, Humphries had 12 points and a game-high 12 rebounds while Jordan finished with 11 points and Dave Pisarcik had 10 points.

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

The Pirates finished fourth in the AASU/Southbridge Invitational, carding rounds of 303 and 314 to finish with a two-day 617 total, 31 strokes behind team champion Francis Marion. Nick Cowper led the Pirates individually, firing rounds of 75 and 77 to finish tied for eighth with a 152 total, eight over par.

AASU's next tournament action, the Wolverine South Intercollegiate at Hunter Army GC, was rained out, so the Pirates will next be in action on March 24-26 at the GC&SU Bobcat Invitational in Milledgeville, Ga.

Women's Basketball (11-18 Overall, 7-12 Peach Belt)

The Lady Pirates capped the 2001-2002 season with a great run in the Peach Belt Conference tournament, becoming the first No. 6 seed to win consecutive games and advance to the PBC Tournament semifinals for only the second time in school history.

AASU shot 67 percent from the floor in the second half to defeat UNC Pembroke, 82-73, in the first round of the PBC Tournament. Junior Shanetra Hodge led the Lady Pirates with a season-high 23 points, while junior Zandrique Cason scored 16 second-half points and senior Lexie Martin chipped in 14 points.

Thursday afternoon, the Pirates faced the No. 2 seed, Kennesaw State, that they had just beaten six days earlier. After losing 11 straight games to Kennesaw State in a string that dated back to 1996-97, the Lady Pirates made it two wins in a row with the 62-57 upset over the Owls as juniors Shaletra Hodge and Zandrique Cason each collected 16 points to lead AASU.

In the semifinals, the Lady Pirates faced a hot GC&SU squad, but AASU came out hotter, taking a 13-5 early lead in the first half and leading 20-13 with 12:22 left in the first half. An 11-1 run by the Lady Bobcats, however, gave them the lead for good as they held on for the 72-64 victory, ending the Lady Pirates' season.

Junior Zandrique Cason, who captured the PBC rebounding title for the second straight season, earned All-Tournament Team honors, as well as being named All-Peach Belt Conference for the second year.

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

The No. 19-ranked AASU men's tennis team collected two wins on the week, blanking Tuskeegee, 9-0, then upsetting No. 12-ranked Lynn University, 5-4, on Friday afternoon.

AASU and Lynn played to a 4-4 tie as the Pirates captured two of three doubles matches, but the Knights rallied to take three of five singles matches, bringing the match down to No. 1 singles, where AASU's Roger Thiele defeated Lynn's Martin Carento, 6-4, 5-7, 7-5, to clinch the match.

The Pirates were also scheduled to meet No. 2 Valdosta State on Sunday, but rain forced the postponement of that match until April. AASU will next be in action on Friday, March 8 as it takes on Columbus State in PBC action at 2:00 p.m., then the Pirates will host No. 13-ranked Florida Southern on Saturday, March 9 at Noon.

Women's Tennis (10-0, 6-0 Peach Belt, No. 5 NCAA Division II)

The No. 3-ranked AASU women's tennis team continued its march through the top teams in the country with a 7-2 win over No. 10-ranked Clayton College & State on Tuesday, then a 5-1 win over No. 1-ranked and defending DII National Champion Lynn University on Friday.

The Lady Pirates swept three doubles matches from Clayton State, then picked up four of six singles wins in taking over sole possession of first place in the Peach Belt women's tennis standings. AASU then won two of three doubles from Lynn and won three singles matches to clinch the upset over the top-ranked Lady Knights.

AASU next faces No. 2-ranked NAIA power Brenau on Wednesday in Jacksonville, Fla., then the Lady Pirates will return home to face UNC Pembroke on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. and Ferris State at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday.

Softball (3-0, 0-0 Peach Belt, No. 13 NCAA Division II)

The AASU softball squad could only get in one game of action at the 2002 Osprey Invitational in Jacksonville, Fla., over the weekend as the Pirates defeated Nova Southeastern, 1-0, in eight innings on Friday.

Senior Annie Sells hurled a complete-game shutout, striking out 11, and drove in the game-winning run on a double in the eighth inning.

The No. 13-ranked Pirates next compete at the FMU Invitational in Florence on Fri.-Sun., March 8-10.

- Pirates -