Boxscore

SAVANNAH, Ga. − A Chris Zittrouer RBI single in the bottom of the fifth inning provided the insurance Armstrong Atlantic State University (ranked No. 24 in the latest Collegiate Baseball Division II Top 30) would need to defeat Flagler College 6-1 in a Peach Belt Conference baseball game Friday afternoon at Pirate Field.

With the win, Armstrong clinched a spot in the Peach Belt Conference Tournament, May 8-12 in Columbus, Ga. The Pirates raised their record to 30-12 overall and 12-7 in the Peach Belt. Flagler, with the loss, is now eliminated from contending for a tournament berth. The Saints fell to 19-24 overall and 9-13 in conference play.

Mike Barnhill led off the fifth inning with a single down the left field line. He took second on a passed ball and moved to third on Josh Heath's sacrifice bunt attempt which turned into a fielder's choice as Barnhill beat the throw to third base. A ground out to first plated Barnhill, the first run of the game, while took second base. Zittrouer, the next batter, singled home Heath to give the Prates a 2-0 lead.

That would be all Trent Landa (4-4) would need as he tossed a complete game, scattered seven hits, allowed one run and struck out seven batters.

The Pirates tacked on a run in the sixth and three unearned runs in the eighth.

Zittrouer singled twice and knocked in two runs for Armstrong. Barnhill singled twice and scored a run. Alex Frederick singled twice and drove in a run.

Flagler's tally came in the eighth inning on Nate Fudala's (Cincinnati, Ohio, Turpin HS) RBI single. He drove in Travis Coverston (Jacksonville, Fla., Stanton College Prep) who had led off the inning with a single and stole second base. 

Jonathan Armold (Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Pine Crest School) (3-7) tossed 7.2 innings in the loss for the Saints. He surrendered eight hits, three earned runs, walked three and fanned four. Armold retired 14 batters on ground outs. He retired 12-fo-the-first-14 batters he faced.

Fudala led Flagler with a pair of singles and a run batted in. John Sgromolo (Fleming Island, Fla., Clay HS) had the lone extra base hit of the game, a double in the first inning.

The same two teams will meet in a 1 p.m. doubleheader tomorrow (Apr. 23).


Armstrong Atlantic 6, Flagler 1 (Apr 22, 2011 at Savannah, GA)
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Flagler............. 000 000 010 - 1 7 1 (19-24, 9-13 PBC)
Armstrong Atlantic.. 000 021 03X - 6 9 0 (30-12, 12-7 PBC)
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Battery: Flagler - Jonathan Armold; Tyler McKendree(8) and Kyle Foti. Armstrong Atlantic - Trent Landa and John Roberts.
Win-Trent Landa(4-4) Loss-Jonathan Armold(3-7) T-2:20 A-152
2B FC – John Sgromolo.
Weather: 86 degrees, humid, partly cldy