Saturday, February 24, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Travis Jarome, Sports Information Director

NORTH GEORGIA SWEEPS FOURTH-RANKED MONTEVALLO
Brad Hall leads Saints in game one, Curtis leads Saints with arm in game two

Dahlonega, GA – North Georgia College & State University rode the bat of Brad Hall in game one and the arm of Chris Curtis in game two, upsetting fourth-ranked Montevallo 11-9 and 7-0 in non-conference baseball action here Saturday afternoon.

The first three pitches that freshman Brad Hall saw in his home debut ended with seven runs batted in and an eight-run lead in game one for North Georgia. In his first at-bat, Hall hit a first-pitch fastball out to right centerfield for a three-run homerun and a quick 3-0 lead for North Georgia. In his next at-bat, Hall hit an 0-1 outside fastball out to right centerfield for a grand slam, placing him third on the Peach Belt Conference all-time list for RBI in a single game with seven.

The Saints would add another run in the bottom of the second for an 8-0 lead, before the Falcons came roaring back.

Montevallo added a run in the fourth Ryan Norman's groundout to shortstop Anders Oster drove in Jeffrey Reach. Reach led off the inning with a single, and was moved to third on a double by Travis Fultz.

North Georgia added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning when Hall led the inning off with a single. He was was brought home when senior third baseman Justin Rickett hit a two-run homerun out to leftfield for a 10-1 lead.

Montevallo would score four in the top of the sixth to cut into the lead, and would add four more in the top of the ninth, only to fall short with the bases loaded. After Daniel Sarisky got into trouble in the ninth, freshman Mike Peters came on for his first collegiate save opportunity. With runners at first and second, Peters walked Chris Wiley to load the bases. He then struck out pinch-hitter Jeff Horne and enticed Brantley Clay into a pop-up to short to end the game.

Brannon Sikes (2-2) picked up the victory, pitching six innings and allowing five runs (two earned) off of seven hits. He walked four and struck out one.

Zac Blakney (2-2) suffered the loss, going five innings, allowing 10 runs off of eight hits, while walking two and striking out one.

Hall led the Saints at the plate, going 3-for-4 with seven runs batted in and three runs scored. Freshman Craig Brisson went 3-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI, while freshman Daniel Petitti went 2-for-4 with a run scored.

Clay, Eric Moore, Daniel Tankersley, Daniel Furuto and Fultz all picked up two hits each for the Falcons.

In game two, North Georgia starter Chris Curtis (2-2) pitched seven shutout innings to complete the shutout. The junior allowed six hits, walked three and struck out one in the victory.

North Georgia helped Curtis out by scoring four runs in the second and two more in the fourth to help with the outing.

In the second inning, North Georgia jumped on Falcons' starter Jeremy Joyce when Rickett doubled to right. He advanced to third on a Kevin Morrison single to second, and scored on an Oster single to left to put the Saints up 1-0. Petitti was hit by a pitch to load the bases, when Brisson singled to left to drive in Morrison for the 2-0 lead. Andre Airich followed with to center to drive in a run and put the Saints up 3-0, before Tate's sacrifice fly closed the four-run inning for North Georgia (5-7).

In the fourth, the Saints started a two-out rally when freshman Andre Airich singled to short. He then stole second, and scored on a Josh Tate single through the left side to put the Saints up 5-0. After a pitching change, Tate stole second and scored on a Hall double to right centerfield for a 6-0 lead.

Joyce (1-2) suffered the loss for Montevallo (12-4), pitching just 3 2/3 innings and giving up six runs on nine hits.

Morrison led the Saints in the second game, going 4-for-4 with a run scored, while Rickett went 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Brisson and Airich each collected two hits, while Hall closed out his career day with an RBI in the game two victory.

The two teams meet for the final game of the series on Sunday afternoon at the NGCSU Baseball Complex. First pitch is scheduled for 1 pm.

-NGCSU-

Box Score (Game One)
Box Score (Game Two)

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