Game 1

After jumping out to a 5-0 lead, the Saints almost let the Hawks sneak by with four runs in the seventh inning before closing out the first game with a 5-4 win.

North Georgia scored its first run in the second inning after freshman center fielder Ryan Seay (Dawsonville, Ga.) singled to score senior right fielder Richie Daigle (Alpharetta, Ga.). The Saints put three runs on the board in the fifth inning to go up 4-0. A one out double by senior shortstop Kevin Bulger (Snellville, Ga.) scored the first run of the inning followed by a bases loaded walk to make it a three run ball game. Sophomore first baseman Creston Warner (Jacksonville, Fla.) scored the final run of the inning. Bulger knocked in Seay to score a run for North Georgia in the sixth and made it a 5-0 ball game heading into the top half of the seventh.

A triple by senior left fielder Andrew Smith started the rally for SC. Smith scored off of a single by sophomore second baseman Allen Donaldson to cut the lead to four. Another run scored after senior left fielder Cooper Brown singled to right field to make it a 5-2 ball game. Junior first baseman Josh Link shot a two RBI double down the left field line to make it a one run ball game before junior reliever Joseph Hardigree (Hull, Ga.) closed out the game.

Hardigree picked up his fifth save of the season and senior starter Justin Stowe (Marietta, Ga.) got the win after going six and a third innings, scattering three hits for two earned runs while striking out seven. Junior starter Kent Audia took the loss after pitching four and a third innings and allowing four earned runs off of six hits.

Game 2

Scoring 10 runs in the first inning, four in the second, and nine in the fourth inning, North Georgia cruised to a 23-6 win in the final game of the series.

The Hawks jumped on the board in the first inning with three runs. Link and freshman shortstop Mark Charette scored on a throwing error followed by junior center fielder Noah Huckaby who scored on the second error of the inning to give SC a 3-0 lead.

A double by junior second baseman Brian Lauderdale (Roswell, Ga.) led off the 10 run first inning to put the Saints up for good. Lauderdale led North Georgia in the game after going 2-for-2 with six RBIs and three runs scored. Lauderdale also knocked his eighth home run of the season and now has 65 RBIs and 82 runs scored which both lead the conference.

Daigle also hit a lead off solo home run in the fourth to spur a nine run inning. Daigle finished a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with three runs and one RBI. He also currently leads the conference with 15 home runs this season.

Every Saints starter tallied at least one hit in the game while seven different starters had multiple hits. Bulger went 2-for-5 with three RBIs and three runs scored along with junior catcher Brad Poitevint (Dothan, Ala.) who went 3-for-4 with five RBIs.

Current SSAC Pitcher of the Week , senior starter Jason Willard (Columbus, Ga.), pitched a complete game and scattered five hits while allowing only three earned runs and striking out eight batters. Sophomore starter Cliff Flagello took the loss after allowing three earned runs off of five hits.

North Georgia will play again on Wednesday as they head up to Cleveland, Tenn. to participate in the SSAC Tournament. With the sweep, the Saints will take the second seed in the tournament.

Box Score (Game 1)

Box Score (Game 2)

Return to Baseball

Head coach Tom Cantrell is award a plaque in a pre-game ceremony for his 400th win earlier this season by NGCSU President, Dr. David Potter