SAVANNAH, GA – Armstrong Atlantic State University used clutch pitching and defense to come away with a 3-1 win over 15th-ranked Francis Marion University in the first game of a Peach Belt Conference baseball series at Pirate Field on Saturday (April 9).

The Pirates (23-8, 5-7 PBC) took a quick 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning as Jarin Lewis' double down the left field line scored Rob Recuenco.   Francis Marion (27-12-1, 14-10-1 PBC)

threatened to take the lead in the third frame by loading the bases with two outs against AASU starter Chris Webb (4-3).   Quentin Davis hit a looping line drive that Pirate third baseman Jared Combs snared behind his back to end the inning and preserve the lead.

It was more of the same in the fourth inning as AASU left fielder Brad Bohannon threw out an FMU runner at the plate to end the inning.  After the Pirates plated a single run in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI-single by Brandon Nunez, the Patriots had their biggest threat in the sixth inning.

Webb loaded the bases with nobody out, then hit Patriot catcher Nick Richardson to drive in FMU's lone run. AASU summoned reliever Leon Boyd, who struck out designated hitter Michael Ward, and then retired left fielder Owen Brittle on a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning.

Boyd hurled three shutout innings in relief of Webb, then turned the ballgame over to closer Matt Nalutka, who worked a scoreless ninth for his sixth save of the season. It was also Nalutka’s 16th consecutive scoreless appearance of the season, breaking the previous school record of 15, set by Bret Donovan in 1991.

Patriot sophomore Brooks Sinquefield (3-5) took the loss for the Patriots, giving up all three runs – two earned – and four hits in 5 1/3 innings.  FMU relievers Mitch Norris and Wade Jordan retired eight of the last nine AASU batters.

Brandon Nunez led the AASU offensive with three hits, including a double, while three Patriots collected two hits on the day – Jason Weaver, Nick Stewart, and Brittle.

The two teams wrap up their three-game PBC series with a doubleheader on Sunday at 1 p.m.