Walden, Pirates Pick Up 4-1 Win Over Southern Indiana

SAVANNAH, Ga. - Senior lefthander Cody Walden hurled a complete-game five-hitter, leading the Armstrong Atlantic State baseball squad to a 4-1 win over visiting Southern Indiana on Friday afternoon at Pirate Field.

Walden was solid for the Pirates (2-2) as he gave up just one run, walking two but striking out six in the complete-game win. Southern Indiana (0-1) dropped its season opener to the Pirates for the second straight season.

The Pirates plated a run in the bottom of the second on a wild pitch by Screaming Eagles starter Tyler Choate (0-1), then went up 3-0 in the bottom of the third on Blake Sills' two-out, two-RBI single. 

That would be all Walden (1-0) needed as he recorded 15 ground ball outs on the day, including a game-ending 6-4-3 double play in the top of the ninth when Southern Indiana had two on with one out and the tying run at the plate in Chad Werry. 

Southern Indiana's only run would come in the fifth as Chad Bruce led off the inning with a triple to center field, and Brad Vance's groundout to short would score him. The Pirates answered with a run in the bottom of the seventh on Juan Dorado's RBI single.

Choate would take the loss for Southern Indiana, giving up nine hits and four runs in 6 1/3 innings, walking one but striking out six. 

Alex Wyche led the Pirates at the plate with three hits, including a triple, while Carlos Cardoza-Oquendo also picked up two hits for AASU. Southern Indiana was led by Bruce and Alex Thieroff, who each collected two hits on the day.

The Pirates and the Screaming Eagles will take the field in game two of their three-game series on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.