AASU Remains Undefeated, Downs FMU

aasu_2May 11, 2007
Spartanburg, S.C. - Armstrong Atlantic State used four Francis Marion errors in the seventh inning to turn a 4-2 deficit into a 9-4 lead and went on for the 11-6 victory over Francis Marion Friday night in the Peach Belt Conference Tournament at Harley Park.

Armstrong Atlantic State improves to 37-20 on the year and faces the winner of Saturday’s 11:00 a.m. elimination game between USC Aiken and Francis Marion.  Armstrong will play Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. and is the only undefeated team remaining in the tournament.

“We had some clutch at bats to get us back to even (in the seventh inning),” said Armstrong head coach Joe Roberts.  “We got some breaks in the inning.  Hotzak had a big hit in the inning.  We had some clutch at bats to get some guys on and in and was fortunate to get some miscues that helped us.”

After the start of the game was delayed 55 minutes due to lightning in the area, the teams came out and combined for five runs in the first two innings.  Francis Marion jumped on top when Jared Barkdoll doubled to drive in a run in the first inning.  Armstrong Atlantic State answered in the bottom of the frame when Josh Wilson tripled to drive in a run and Kenny Cail singled to plate a run to give the Pirates a 2-1 lead.

Francis Marion regained the lead in the second inning.  David Bounds singled to drive in a run and Derek Kennemer scored all the way from first on a throwing error by the Priate first baseman as the Patriots opened a 3-2 lead.  The Patriots took a 4-2 lead with a run in the top of the seventh inning when Justin Greene drew a bases loaded walk.

Armstrong cut into the lead in the seventh inning when Josh Dallas collected an RBI on a sacrifice fly.  With two outs, the wheels came off for Francis Marion defensively.  The Patriots committed four errors leading to five unearned runs in the inning as the Pirates turned a two-run deficit into a 9-4 lead heading into the eighth inning.  Sean Hotzak highlighted the inning with a two-run double.

Armstrong added to its lead with a pair of runs in the eighth when Truman Marek and Tyler Evans each collected RBI singles.  Francis Marion tried to answer in the ninth, plating two runs.  However, the seven-run deficit was too much to overcome for the Patriots.

Marek led Armstrong at the plate, finishing 4-for-5 with two RBIs and three runs.  Evans had a pair of hits for the Pirates.  Ryan Hewitt led Francis Marion with a pair of hits.

Vyt Rivers tossed seven innings to improve to 6-5 on the year.  Francis Marion starter Cory Deering went 6 2/3 innings and took the loss for the Patriots, falling to 4-1 on the year.

“It was obvious we had a rough seventh inning,” said Francis Marion head coach Art Inabinet.  “That was the difference in the game.  Armstrong Atlantic has a really good team, but we let them hang around and it came back and bit us.”

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