SAVANNAH, Ga. - The No. 21-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State University softball team swept Lynn University, 5-2 and 8-3, in a non-conference doubleheader on Sunday afternoon at the Armstrong Softball Field.

The Pirates finished their opening weekend 3-1 after taking a pair from the Knights, who fell to 0-4 in their opening weekend of play.

All of the scoring in game one came courtesy of the longball. Junior Brittany Cooley put the Pirates on top with a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth inning, but Lynn pitcher Callie Darlin responded with a two-run blast in the top of the fifth inning that moved the Knights ahead, 2-1.

In the bottom of the fifth, junior Shelby Duff launched a two-run shot to put Armstrong back on top, 3-2, then two batters later senior Baillie Temples cranked a two-run shot of her own for the 5-2 lead.

Junior Megan Barnwell limited the Knights to five hits and two runs, walking one while striking out eight to improve to 2-0 on the season. Darlin (0-2) took the loss for the Knights, giving up six hits and five runs - four earned - while walking four and striking out two.

In game two, Armstrong jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first three innings. Temples delivered an RBI single in the first inning, then gave herself up on the basepaths between first and second to allow April Jowers to score from third for the second run. Freshman Alexis Mercer connected on a sacrifice fly in the third inning for the three-run lead.

Lynn tied things up in the fifth inning with three runs with a one-out rally. Pitcher Kasey Murray hit a bases-loaded double to center that scored two, then Lauren Garceau followed with an RBI single to knot the score at 3-3.

Armstrong got a bit of good luck to retake the lead in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs, Temples hit a hot shot to second that third baseman Vicky Naginsky threw low to first, putting Temples on second. Brittany Cooley followed with an RBI single, then Lynn left fielder Kaci Vassallo dropped a fly ball off the bat of Mercer, allowing Cooley to score for the 5-2 lead.

Temples then added a big measure of insurance in the sixth inning with a bases-clearing three-run double down the left field line to make the score 8-3.

Freshman Caitlin Campbell (1-1) picked up her first collegiate win for the Pirates, hurling seven innings of six-hit, three-run ball, walking two while striking out four. Murray (0-2) took the loss for the Knights, giving up five hits and six runs - three earned - in five innings pitched, walking two and striking out two.

Temples finished the doubleheader 4-for-7 with six RBIs and two runs scored to lead Armstrong offensively. Jowers went 3-for-5 with a stolen base while Cooley went 3-for-7 with two RBIs.

Garceau led the Knights with a 4-for-6 performance in the two games while Marianne Johnson added three hits, including a double.

Armstrong returns to action on Friday, February 10th, taking part in the Eckerd Triton Spring Invitational in Clearwater, Fla.