Sunday, March 4, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Travis Jarome, Sports Information Director

NORTH GEORGIA COMPLETES SWEEP OF USC UPSTATE
Saints record second Peach Belt Conference series since joining conference

DAHLONEGA, Ga. – Mitch Williams and Zach Black combined on a two-hitter, leading North Georgia College & State University to a 6-1 victory over 24th-ranked USC Upstate and helping the Saints complete the weekend sweep.

Williams (1-1), a freshman from Suwanee, picked up his first collegiate victory by scattering two hits over seven innings. His only mistake was a solo homerun by Jimmy Tanner in the top of the seventh inning. Williams held a no-hitter until the first batter of the sixth inning, Andrew Maddox, singled to centerfield. Meanwhile, Black, a sophomore from Lawrenceville, finished off the contest with two innings of shutout baseball.

The Saints and Spartans battled to a scoreless draw until the fourth inning, when North Georgia put three runs on the board and staked their claim to the series. Sophomore centerfielder Josh Tate led off the inning with a walk, he then stole second base and advanced to third on a throwing error by Upstate catcher Bret Story. Freshman leftfielder Kevin Morrison drove Tate home on a sacrifice fly to deep rightfield, giving North Georgia a 1-0 lead. Freshman designated hitter Brad Hall was next at the plate, promptly singling to left. He advanced to second on a Justin Rickett infield single to deep second base. Senior first baseman Creston Warner delivered the knockout blow with a double to left-center and a 3-0 North Georgia lead.

The Saints struck again in the sixth when freshman rightfielder Craig Brisson singled through the left side and then stole second. He later scored on a double by freshman second baseman Andre Airich, giving North Georgia a 4-0 lead.

After Tanner hit his solo shot in the top half of the seventh inning, the Saints answered with two runs in the bottom of the seventh. Morrison led the inning off with a single up the middle, and was then sacrificed to second by Hall. Following another infield single by Rickett, Warner delivered with his third RBI of the day with a single to center that scored Morrison from second. Sophomore shortstop Anders Oster delivered the final run of the game on a single to left that scored Rickett from first and a 6-1 Saints' lead.

Oster led the Saints at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a run batted in. Warner went 2-for-4 with three runs batted in, while Rickett was 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Morrison and Brisson each picked up two hits in the Saints' victory.

Matt Branham (2-1) suffered the loss for USC Upstate (11-9, 2-7 PBC), going just 3 1/3 innings and allowing three runs off of five hits. The Spartans bullpen pitched 4 2/3 innings, allowing three runs off of 10 hits.

North Georgia (8-9, 3-3 PBC) is off until Friday when they host 14th-ranked West Florida at home. The Saints are 5-0 at home this season, with all five wins coming against ranked opponents.

-NGCSU-

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