Tuesday, April 12, 2005

#18 SAINTS WIN WASHOUT AGAINST LIONS

Dahlonega, Ga. – 18th ranked North Georgia College & State University (42-12) scored all 12 of their runs in the first three innings and beat the rain and visiting Piedmont College (17-15) Tuesday evening 12-3 at the NGCSU Baseball Complex.

Before thunderstorms swept onto the diamond, junior second baseman Brian Lauderdale (Roswell, Ga.) knocked in two runs and scored two runs to lead the Saints. Current Southern States Athletic Conference Player of the Week, sophomore first baseman Creston Warner (Jacksonville, Fla.), knocked a double to score the first run of the game and later scored on a ground out. North Georgia finished the first inning with a four run lead before lighting up the second inning.

The Saints scored seven runs off of five hits and one error in the second inning to break the game wide open. Lauderdale picked up his two RBI’s in the inning and freshman designated hitter Eric Good (Dahlonega, Ga.) drove in one run and scored another. Sophomore third baseman Justin Rickett (Cumming, Ga.) went 1-for-2 in the game and scored one of his two runs in the second inning.

With an 11-0 lead, junior left fielder Ryan Gurley (Jefferson, Ga.) singled in the final run for the Saints to make the score 12-0 in the third inning. The first through fourth slots of North Georgia’s lineup scored two runs each in the game and all but one batter had an RBI.

The Lions scored their three runs in the sixth inning as clouds hung over the field. A one out bases loaded walk sent freshman center fielder Travis Hunt (Smyrna, Ga.) home and an RBI single from freshman second baseman Cole Spedale (Woodstock, Ga.) scored another run. A third run was scored by another bases loaded walk, but a forced ground out ended the inning while the rain ended the game in six innings.

Senior starting pitcher Kevin Bulger (Snellville, Ga.) picked up his second win of the season after pitching four innings and limiting PC to two hits with five strikeouts. Senior starter Jeff McClesky (Canton, Ga.) was handed the loss after allowing nine earned runs off of nine hits with one strikeout.

Next up for the Saints is another non-conference game as they host Montreat College tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m. The Lions will play again Wednesday as well as they travel to Oglethorpe University for a game at 7:00 p.m.

Box Score