North Georgia College & State University put one run on the board in the first inning after junior first baseman Brett Leja (Miami, Fla.) knocked in a run with an RBI single to right field. Cumberland College scored one run in the second inning and two in the third off of a walk and a fielder's choice to take the lead, 3-1.

Four singles and one hits batsman helped the Saints put three runs on the board and take a one run lead in the fourth inning. The Patriots struck right back in the top of the fifth with their own three run inning. Freshman third baseman Chaz Gentry scored on a walk for the final run, but Cumberland left the bases loaded after freshman reliever James Wilson (Bethlehem, Ga.) forced a pop-up for the final out.

The Patriots put two more runs on the board in the sixth and seventh inning and had a 8-4 lead with only nine outs to go, but North Georgia exploded with seven runs off of five hits and one error to take the 11-8 lead. Junior second baseman Brian Lauderdale (Roswell, Ga.) knocked in two runs after he singled down the right field line. Freshman catcher Erik Good (Dahlonega, Ga.) also added two runs after he doubled down the left field line for a couple of RBI's.

In the ninth inning, Cumberland was able to get one run on the board after junior shortstop Adam Garrett scored on a passed ball. Senior reliever Kevin Bulger (Snellville, Ga.) came in a set down the final batter for the Patriots to give the Saints their 12 th win of the season.

North Georgia used six pitchers in the game and Cumberland used four pitchers. Senior reliever Craig McKee (Buford, Ga.) won his first game of the season and Bulger picked up his first save as well. Junior reliever Tyler Peurach took the loss for the Patriots after pitching two-thirds of an inning and giving up one run off of one hit.

These two teams play again tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. at the NGCSU Baseball Complex.