AUGUSTA, Ga. - Armstrong Atlantic State wiggled out of a jam in the ninth inning Tuesday afternoon to edge Augusta State 3-2 in a non-Peach Belt Conference matchup at Lake Olmstead Stadium.

Pirates' starter Thomas Gray (2-1) earned the complete-game win, scattering nine hits but surrendering just a pair of runs in 9.0 innings. The senior right-hander tallied seven strikeouts against just one walk.

After ASU pulled within 3-2 with a run in the eighth, Gray escaped further damage in the ninth. Junior catcher Casey Hanrahan reached on a leadoff single and moved to second on Tony Baker's sacrifice bunt. Freshman third baseman Cole Payne then lined a single to left to put runners on the corners. Gray battled ASU's Evan Smith before inducing a double-play grounder from the Jags' senior shortstop to end the game.

The victory lifted the Pirates to 8-2 overall while the Jaguars dropped to 5-7.

ASU junior righty Scott Strickland, making his first start of the season, got the no-decision. He allowed just four hits and an earned run in 5-plus innings, striking out four and walking five. Junior lefty Joah Evans took over for Strickland in the sixth inning and tallied a strikeout in his only inning of work. Sophomore Chase Johnston (0-2) was charged with the loss. He yielded two runs -- one earned -- and five hits in 3.0 innings. He struck out a pair and walked on.

Alex Wyche and Chris Zittrouer had two hits each for the Pirates and John Roberts collected two RBI.

Curtis Parker paced the Jags with a 3-for-4 afternoon, while Hanrahan and Tristan Toorie added two hits each. The Jags turn right around and travel to Hartsville, S.C., on Wednesday, Feb. 24 to take on Coker at 2:30 p.m.