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This Week In Armstrong Atlantic State Athletics

Monday, March 6
• Women's Tennis vs. UNC Charlotte, 2:30 p.m.

Tuesday, March 7
• Baseball vs. Adelphi, 2:00 p.m.

Wednesday, March 8
• Softball vs. UNC Pembroke, 1:00 p.m.
• Men's & Women's Tennis at Georgia College & State, 1:00 p.m.
• Baseball vs. Grand Valley State, 2:00 p.m.
• Track and Field at SSU All-Comers

Thursday, March 9
• Softball vs. Edinboro, 1:00 p.m.
• Baseball vs. Wayne State, 2:00 p.m.

Friday, March 10
• Women's Tennis vs. Brenau, 12:30 p.m.
• Men's Tennis vs. Florida Southern, 2:00 p.m.
• Softball at Edward Waters, 2:00 p.m.

Saturday, March 11
• Baseball vs. Bryant, 2:00 p.m.
• Track and Field at SSU Relays

Sunday, March 12
• Softball at St. Andrews, 1:00 p.m.
• Baseball vs. Bryant, 2:00 p.m.
• Men's Tennis at UC Davis, 2:00 p.m.

Men's Basketball (16-13 Overall; 11-5 PBAC; PBAC Tournament Runner-Up)

The Pirate men's basketball team advanced to the Peach Belt Athletic Conference tournament championship game, defeating UNC Pembroke, 77-54, and Augusta State, 69-46, before falling to Columbus State in the finals, 95-67.

AASU's trip to the finals was the second in the past three seasons for the Pirates and head coach Griff Mills, but the Cougars once again played the nemesis for AASU, defeating the Pirates for the fifth time in five tries in PBAC Tourney history.

Junior Robert Campbell – who was named the PBAC Men's Basketball Player of the Year – and junior Tavares Brown were named to the All-PBAC Tournament team.

The Pirates will lose just one senior from this season's squad and return all five starters in 2000-2001.

Baseball (14-5, 5-4 PBAC, No. 21 – Collegiate Baseball NCAA Division II Coaches' Top 25)

Head coach Joe Roberts' No. 21-ranked AASU baseball team opened the 2000 Savannah Invitational with four wins in five games on the week.

AASU scored in every inning of a 12-7 win over Mercyhurst on Tuesday, then watched senior Kevin Bullard hit two home runs and drive in nine in a 19-4 win over Queens on Thursday.

Friday, the Pirates defeated Wayne State, 12-2, as senior Joey Williams won his fifth game of the season and became only the eighth pitcher in AASU history to register 20 career wins.

The Pirates defeated Queens on Saturday, 13-2, behind Jason Ackley's six strong innings. Ackley improved to a perfect 5-0 with the win. NCAA World Series participant Adelphi then halted the Pirates' six-game winning streak with a 10-7 win over the Pirates on Sunday.

This week, the Pirates continue action in the Savannah Invitational with five games, beginning with Tuesday's game against Adelphi at 2:00 p.m. AASU then hosts Grand Valley State on Wednesday at 2:00 p.m., Wayne State on Thursday at 2:00 p.m. and then Bryant for two weekend games on Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 p.m.

Men's & Women's Tennis (8-4, No. 3 (W), 7-2, No. 4 (M) - NCAA Division II Coaches' Poll)

Head coach Simon Earnshaw's men's tennis team won all three matches this week, including a 6-3 win over No. 12 Lynn University on Friday. The Pirates also defeated Columbus State, 7-1, and USC Spartanburg, 9-0, in PBAC action to remain perfect in conference play this season.

The women's team also defeated Columbus State, 6-2, and USC Spartanburg, 5-0, but lost a tough match to No. 2-ranked Lynn, 5-4.

This week, the Lady Pirates host UNC Charlotte on Monday at 2:30 p.m., then both the men's and women's teams travel to Georgia College & State to face the Bobcats on Wednesday, March 8 at 1:00 p.m. The AASU women host Brenau on Friday, March 10 at 12:30 p.m., while the men host Florida Southern at 2:00 p.m. The men then begin their California swing with a Sunday, March 12 match at UC Davis at 3:00 p.m. local time.

Softball (13-0, 0-0 PBAC, No. 11 – NFCA Coaches' Division II Top 25)

The AASU softball squad swept a doubleheader from Lake Superior State, 10-0 and 8-0, on Wednesday, then earned a share of the Osprey Invitational championship over the weekend by going 6-0 in the round-robin tournament, including two wins over ranked teams.

AASU downed No. 10 Barry University, 6-4, and No. 19 Florida Southern, 2-0, in the first day of action on Friday. Saturday, the Pirates recorded three shutouts, defeating Saint Leo, 2-0, Valdosta State, 7-0, and Eckerd College, 20-0. Sunday, AASU earned a share of the title with a 6-2 win over Northwood. Host North Florida also finished the tournament with a perfect 6-0 mark.

The Pirates are now a perfect 13-0 on the season and have given up just seven runs in 13 games so far this season.

AASU returns to action on Wednesday, March 8, as they host UNC Pembroke at 1:00 p.m. in its Peach Belt Athletic Conference opener. The Pirates then host Edinboro (Pa.) at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 9, then travel for two weekend games – to Jacksonville, Fla., for a Friday, March 10 doubleheader with Edward Waters and to Laurinburg, N.C., for a Sunday, March 12 doubleheader with St. Andrews.

Track and Field

Head coach Greg Wimer's track and field squad competed at the Oglethorpe Relays on Saturday, March 4, in Atlanta, Ga., in their season debut.

The Pirate men captured the 4x800 run, winning in a time of 8:19.12, while the women 4x1250 team finished second in a time of 17:58 to Clayton State.

Individually, Paul McRae won the men's 800 meters in a time of 2:01.41, beating fellow teammate Gary Ginn, who finished second in a time of 2:04.00. Nikki Garland captured the women's 800 meters in a time of 2:20.22, while Jillian Charles won her heat of the 800 meters in a time of 2:39.30.

Pirate runners will take part in two events at crosstown Savannah State this week. Wednesday, March 8, is the Savannah State All-Comers meet, while Saturday, March 11, is the Savannah State Relays.

- Pirates -