Monday, February 27, 2006

#11 PIRATES COMPLETE SWEEP OF SAINTS

Savannah, Ga. – #11 Armstrong Atlantic plated three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to come away with a come-from-behind 6-4 Peach Belt Conference victory over visiting North Georgia. The win gave the Pirates a three-game sweep of the Saints on Monday afternoon in game two of a doubleheader. AASU took game one of Monday’s doubleheader, 5-1, to help record their first PBC-opening sweep since the 2003 season.

Armstrong Atlantic (11-0-1, 3-0 PBC) used six strong innings from junior John Ducey and four RBI from junior Pete Gundolff to take a win in game one of Monday’s double dip, 5-1, setting the stage for an exciting game three of the first-ever PBC series from new league member North Georgia (7-9, 0-3 PBC).

The Saints and the Pirates traded single runs throughout the contest, with North Georgia taking a 4-3 lead in the top of the eighth inning when Brian Lauderdale legged out a hustle double to center field, stole third, then scored on Justin Rickett’s groundout to third base.

The Pirates answered back in the bottom of the third, loading the bases on Daniel Heflin’s leadoff double, an error by the North Georgia infield allowed Josh Dallas to reach, and Jared Combs’ bunt basehit. North Georgia reliever Dustin Wellborn (0-3) gave up an infield base hit to Marc Noble, driving in the tying run. A hit from Truman Marek with the bases loaded to pushed across the go-ahead run. After getting a 1-2-3 double play, Wellborn then uncorked a wild pitch, scoring Noble to make the score, 6-4. The eighth inning was the only inning in the game in which either team scored more than one run in a frame.

All-America closer Matt Nalutka then worked a scoreless ninth for his second save of the season, giving the Pirates the sweep of the Saints - AASU’s first sweep of a PBC-opening series since 2003, when the Pirates swept Augusta State in three one-run games. The comeback made a winner out of Austin Ducey (2-0), who gave up one run in one inning pitched, and saddled Wellborn with the loss as he gave up three runs – one earned – on three hits in 1 2/3 innings pitched.

Gundolff finished the day with four hits and four RBI to lead the Pirate players at the plate. Heflin collected two hits in the second game, including his second home run of the season, while Noble also finished the day with three hits. Rickett had a three-hit day for the Saints, including a solo home run that represented North Georgia’s only run of game one, while Ryan Gurley fashioned a three-hit day in the second game of the doubleheader.

Ducey (2-0) collected the win in game one, giving up four hits and one run while striking out five in six innings of work, while Cory Gilleland (0-1) took the loss for the Saints, giving up seven hits and five runs – four earned – in five innings of work.

The Pirates return to action on Thursday, March 2, as they host Claflin at 2:00 p.m. at Pirate Field. North Georgia returns to action on Wednesday, March 1, as they travel to West Georgia for a 3:00 p.m. matchup with the Braves.

Box Score, Game 1

Box Score, Game 2

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