Wednesday, March 8, 2006

SAINTS RETURN HOME TO WIN SIXTH STRAIGHT GAME 10-4

Dahlonega, Ga. – North Georgia College & State University put 11 hits and 10 runs on the board to beat visiting Southern Wesleyan University 10-4.

Dusty Tate

Mark Thomas

Both the Saints (13-9) and Warriors (14-16) started off slow in the opening innings of the game.  The Warriors were the first to jump onto the scoreboard in the top of the second as John Sciullo had a lead off triple followed by a sacrifice fly by Kevin Brown allowing him to score and put SWU up 1-0.  The Saints struggled to find the gaps until senior Dusty Tate tied the game 1-1 in the bottom of fourth inning with a lead off inside the park homerun.

The North Georgia dugout hoped to propel themselves ahead, but Warrior pitchers Kyle Mounts and Ben Douglas held the Saints until the start of the seventh.  Sciullo singled to start the inning, then later scored off a double by Tyler Brady adding comfort to SWU, up 2-1.  In the bottom of the inning, the Saints awoke from their sleep as they encountered their fourth Warrior pitcher Josh Giles.  Ryan Gurley led off with a walk, but two outs were then earned off a sacrifice bunt and a line drive to left field.  What seemed as another unfortunate inning for the Saints was surmounted as Kyle Potts singled to bring in Gurley and tie the game 2-2.  Davy Wallach doubled to bring in Potts, and Anders Oster singled to bring in Wallach.  The hitting continued as Brian Lauderdale, Tate, Justin Rickett, Gurley, Creston Warner, and Potts took turns advancing each other around the bases.  The Saints added eight more runs before the inning concluded leaving the Warriors amazed and down 10-2.

In the top of the eighth, Jeff Vitaris and Davey Blackburn scored trying to duplicate the Saint’s onslaught.  However, the deficit was too great to overcome and the Saint’s pitchers ended the game in short order.  Mark Thomas (2-1) earned the win for the Saints and the loss went to Giles (3-5).

The Saints return to action this Friday as they host a three game series with Barton College beginning at 6:00 p.m. The Warriors travel home to play Shorter College on Friday at 4:00 p.m.

Box Score

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