Sunday, February 4, 2007

NORTH GEORGIA FALLS IN EXTRA INNINGS
Kevin Morrison and Brad Hall each hit homerus in the loss

Wilson, NC – A bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the 12th inning, allowed Barton to escape with an 11-10 victory over North Georgia at Nixon Field in the rubber game of the three-game non-conference series Sunday afternoon.

North Georgia found themselves trailing for the second consecutive day, this time trailing 5-3 after four innings. However, the Saints scored six runs over the next two innings to pull even at 9-9.

In the fifth, freshman Kevin Morrison hit his first collegiate homerun when he connected for a solo shot to right center. Senior Justin Rickett, the next batter, was drilled by a pitch. Senior Creston Warner singled to right, sending Rickett to second base. The next batter, freshman Craig Brisson hit in to a fielder's choice, sending Rickett to third and setting the stage for freshman Brad Hall. After a flyout by Daniel Petitti, Hall smashed a three-run homerun to left to give the Saints a 7-5 lead.

After Barton tied the game at 7-7 in the bottom of the fifth, the Saints answered with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth to take a 9-7 lead. Freshman Andre Airich doubled to centerfield to start the inning. That was followed by a single to leftfield off the bat of sophomore Anders Oster, sending Airich to third. Morrison hit into a double play, allowing Airich to score from third to give the Saints a one-run lead. Rickett reached on a fielding error by the Barton shortstop, and he moved to second when Warner singled to left. Brisson connected for an RBI single to center, driving in Rickett and giving the Saints a two-run lead.

Barton would tie the game in the bottom of the sixth, and each team would add a run in the seventh to set the stage for the 12th inning.

Mitch Williams (0-1) suffered the loss, pitching 1 1/3 innings and allowing one run off of no hits while walked two. Dustin Wellborn saw action after Williams, going just 1/3 of an inning.

Brandon Brinson (1-0) picked up the win for Barton, going seven innings.

Travis Holloman led Barton (2-1) at the plate, going 3-for-7.

Morrison went 3-for-6 with two runs scored and two runs batted in, while Brisson went 3-for-7 with two runs batted in. Warner, Petitti, Hall and Airich each added a pair of hits in the loss.

North Georgia (1-2) travels to Livingston, Ala. next weekend for a three-game series against the University of West Alabama beginning Friday afternoon.

-NGCSU-

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