Friday, February 15, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: David Beall, Sports Information Director

SAINTS SWEEP MILLERSVILLE IN DOUBLE DIP
North Georgia Completes Sweep With 12-Inning Affair

Game 1 | Game 2

DAHLONEGA, GA – North Georgia College & State University was down to their last strike in the 9th, but managed a pair of hits to force extra innings where they escaped a 16-15 winner in 12 innings over Millersville University thanks to a Daniel Petitti walk off hit. In game one, the Saints led throughout for an 8-2 win as they take the first of two in the four game series. 

North Georgia found themselves down a run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, but Craig Brisson came through with a two-out double down the left line to bring Logan Sharrett racing all the way around from first to tie the game 15-15.

Almost five hours before the final out in game two, the lights came on and Millersville jumped out for their first lead of the series, scoring four runs in the second inning on three hits and the benefit of a North Georgia error to take a 4-1 lead.

The Saints cut into the Millersville lead with two runs in the second, and broke out in the third for six runs on Josh Tate’s first home run of the year and a pair of walks which forced home two runs and gave North Georgia a 9-4 lead after just three innings.

The fourth inning had just as much excitement, but this time it was Millersville turn, putting a six spot on the board for a 10-9 lead. The big blow of the inning came on Brett Rhoads triple to right center to plate three runs and scored on a throwing error to tie the game at 9-9. Derek Kline followed and sent a long ball down the left field line that just cleared the fence to cap a six run inning and give the Marauders a 10-9 advantage.

The Saints came right back in their half of the fourth with some two-out magic, scoring three runs on RBI hits from Flanigan and Petitti to give North Georgia a 12-10 lead.

Kline brought the Marauders to within a run in the seventh inning, but RBI’s from Anders Oster and Davy Wallach pushed the lead back to three in the bottom of the inning at 14-11.

The Marauders would answer in the eighth with a double down the left field line by Kline to score Corey Phelan and drop the Saints’ lead to just two at 14-12.  In the top of the next inning, Millersville would place a three spot on the board off an error giving them a 15-14 lead before the Saints would have the last word and escape with a win that saw 31 runs, 26 walks, and 29 hits.

In game one, North Georgia jumped out to an early lead, taking a 1-0 advantage in the first inning on a single through the right side by Rob Flanigan to bring Craig Brisson home from third. The Saints would add another run two innings later without the benefit of a hit, making it a 2-0 lead and leaving three men on base and seven through the first three innings.
 
Scott Slembecker put Millersville on the board in the fifth inning with a leadoff solo homer to left to make it a 2-1 Saints lead.

North Georgia answered in the bottom half of the inning, pushing three runs across on bases clearing double off the bat of Brisson who finished the opening game 4-5 with four runs batted in and two runs scored.

Millersville would add another in the seventh on a pair of hits, but once again the Saints responded with a three spot in the bottom half of the inning in route to an 8-2 series opening win.

Chris Curtis (2-1) picks up the win, going 6.0 innings, allowing one earned run while striking out three. Scott Lippa (0-1) got the start for Millersville in their season opener and is tagged with the loss, allowing five runs on seven hits while walking five, and striking out two.

Almost five hours before the final out in game two, the lights came on and Millersville jumped out for their first lead of the series, scoring four runs in the second inning on three hits and the benefit of a North Georgia error to take a 4-1 lead.

The Saints cut into the Millersville lead with two runs in the second, and broke out in the third for six runs on Josh Tate’s first home run of the year and a pair of walks which forced home two runs and gave North Georgia a 9-4 lead after just three innings.

The fourth inning had just as much excitement, but this time it was Millersville turn, putting a six spot on the board for a 10-9 lead. The big blow of the inning came on Brett Rhoads triple to right center to plate three runs and scored on a throwing error to tie the game at 9-9. Derek Kline followed and sent a long ball down the left field line that just cleared the fence to cap a six run inning and give the Marauders a 10-9 advantage.

The Saints came right back in their half of the fourth with some two-out magic, scoring three runs on RBI hits from Flanigan and Petitti to give North Georgia a 12-10 lead.

Kline brought the Marauders to within a run in the seventh inning, but RBI’s from Anders Oster and Davy Wallach pushed the lead back to three in the bottom of the inning at 14-11.

The Marauders would answer in the eighth with a double down the left field line by Kline to score Corey Phelan and drop the Saints’ lead to just two at 14-12.  In the top of the next inning, Millersville would place a three spot on the board off an error giving them a 15-14 lead.

The Saints would not be outdone with a double down the left field line by Brisson to score a sprinting Logan Sharrett from first and tie the game 15-15 headed into the 10th.

North Georgia (5-3) will take a brief rest before taking on Millersville in another double header tomorrow with a 3:00 p.m. start. Michael Patton will take the hill for the Saints in game three while Mark Thomas will make his first start of 2008 in the series finale. 

-NGCSU-

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