Friday, April 21, 2006

SAINTS RALLY TO BEAT SPARTANS IN OPENER

Dahlonega, Ga. – North Georgia College and State University used three ninth inning runs capped by a liner over the center fielder’s head by Ryan Gurley to pull out a 7-6 victory over USC Upstate and take game one of a three game set under the lights on Friday evening.

Michael Whiting

Justin Rickett

Ryan Gurley

North Georgia (28-24, 6-13) jumped on the board in the first inning with a one out double from Justin Rickett to score Brian Lauderdale and give the Saints a 1-0 lead. In the third, Gurley hit into a double play, but Jake Barrow scored on the play and the Saints took a 2-0 lead over USC Upstate (29-20, 10-12).

North Georgia added to their lead in the bottom of the fifth with a two out, two-run home run down the right field line by Rickett to score Barrow and give the Saints a 4-0 lead.

The Spartans had one last chance in the ninth as they loaded up the bases with no outs. Bret Story grounded out to second for the first out of inning to plate Michael Kohn and cut the Saints lead to 4-1. Two batters later, the Spartans continued the late inning rally with a two out double to left centerfield to score Matt Goyea and Kyle Bowley and close the score to 4-3. Brad Wingo then came to bat, and a pass ball and single to left field silenced the home crowd and gave Upstate a 5-4 lead. The Spartans added one more run in the inning to lead 6-4.

In the bottom half of the ninth, North Georgia tacked on a run with a groundout to second to score Creston Warner. Lauderdale stole second with two outs and Barrow rolled a grounder under the diving third baseman to plate Lauderdale and tie the game 6-6. Gurley ended the game in style as he hit a liner that sailed over the leaping Upstate center fielder to plate Barrow and give the Saints a 7-6 win.

Saints’ Mark Thomas picked up the win for the Saints as he got the final out in the ninth inning. He improved to 6-4 on the season. Michael Whiting started the game for North Georgia as he tossed his best game of the season in the no-decision. Whiting went eight innings, struck out five, and allowed only two runs. Bradley Blanks (2-1) was tagged with the loss for Upstate as he entered the game in the ninth and was charged with all three of the Saints runs.

Box Score

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