Saturday, April 7, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Travis Jarome, Sports Information Director

SAINTS SWEPT BY 8th-RANKED COLUMBUS STATE
Creston Warner collects three hits in game one loss

DAHLONEGA, Ga. – North Georgia College & State University fell to eighth-ranked Columbus State University in both games of a doubleheader, dropping the first game 9-4 and the second game 9-0.

In game one, the two teams battled to a 4-4 tie through seven innings, before the Cougars plated five runs over the final two innings including four in the ninth for the final margin.

Brandon Masters scored the eventual winning run in the eighth inning when he singled through the right side with one out off of reliever Zach Black.  He advanced to second on a balk, and scored on a Brad Bowen down the leftfield line for a 5-4 Columbus State lead.

The Cougars added four more in the ninth, enabling them to pull away from North Georgia for the victory.  Rodney Rutherford singled through the right side after Drew Candlin walked to lead-off the inning.  Both runners advanced when David Brown drew a walk, before Candlin scored after Brian Gordon was hit by a pitch to push the lead to 6-4.  The next batter, Masters, reached on a fielder’s choice when he hit the ball to third baseman Justin Rickett who promptly threw Rutherford out at the plate for the second out of the inning,  Bowen singled to left, taking second on the throw in from Kevin Morrison, scoring two runners and pushing the lead to 8-4.  The Cougars got their final run on an infield single off the bat of Jonnie Geiger, off of Black.

North Georgia had their chances in the first game, scoring four runs in the fourth inning to take a 4-3 lead.  After Brad Hall led off the inning with a line out, Creston Warner doubled down the leftfield line.  After Daniel Petitti grounded out, moving Warner to third, Craig Brisson drew a walk to keep the inning alive.  Andre Airich followed with a single to left to drive in Warner and chip into Columbus State’s lead at 3-1.  The inning stayed alive when Josh Tate doubled to right centerfield, scoring Brisson from second and trimming the lead to 3-2.  Both Airich and Tate would score when Kevin Morrison singled through the left side for a 4-3 North Georgia lead.  After the fourth, the Saints couldn’t get to the Cougars bullpen, stranding 10 runners in the loss.

Bryan Kilgore (1-2) picked up the win for Columbus State, in relief of starter Anthony Arrington.  Kilgore went four innings, allowing just one hit while striking out eight.  Black (0-5) took the loss, pitching 3 2/3 innings of relief and allowing five runs off of seven hits.

In the first game, Rutherford led the Cougars at the plate with a 4-for-5 performance including an RBI.  Bowen went 3-for-5 with three runs batted in, while Candlin, Brown and Masters each picked up two hits for Columbus State.

Warner led the Saints at the plate, going 3-for-4, while seven other Saints each picked up a hit in the loss.

In game two, the Cougars scored four runs in each of the fourth and sixth innings to pull away from North Georgia for the victory and the series sweep.

Rutherford provided the big blow for Columbus State with a solo homerun in the top of the fourth inning to give Columbus State a 4-0 lead through four.  The Cougars added the other three runs on a hit batter, a fielder’s choice and a single to take the early lead in the final game of the series. Unfortunately for North Georgia, the Cougars added four more runs in the in the top of sixth inning, highlighted by a three-run homerun by Candlin off reliever Mike Peters to give the Cougars an 8-0 lead.

Brannon Sikes (3-3) suffered the loss for the Saints by going four innings and allowing four runs off of seven hits.

Jarrett Coker (8-1) picked up the win for Columbus State by pitching six inning of three-hit baseball.  Rutherford came in to close out the game in the top of the seventh inning for the Cougars.

Candlin led the Cougars at the plate, going 5-for-5, knocking in five runs in the second game.  Rutherford added three hits for Coumbus State.

Brisson, Warner, Hall and Petitti each collected a hit for North Georgia in the game two loss.

North Georgia (23-16, 10-8 PBC) return to action on Tuesday night against Erskine College at 7 pm at the NGCSU Baseball Complex.

-NGCSU-

Related Item: Box Score (Game One)
Related Item: Box Score (Game Two)

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