Rome, Ga. – In a battle of conference heavy weights, first seed North Georgia College & State University fought past second seed Lee University 2-1 in the semifinals of the Southern States Athletic Conference Softball Tournament.

Senior starting pitcher Beth Willis pitched her third consecutive complete game gave up her first run of the conference tournament. After scattering three hits, the senior picked up her third win of the tournament and led the Saints (3-0) back to the championship game.

The Lady Flames (2-1) loaded the bases in the first inning with one out and looked to blow the game wide open, but Willis struck out Jay Hinton and forced a pop-up to get out of the jam.

Freshman third baseman Brittany Barnes led the second inning off with a double and later scored on a triple from freshman center fielder Brittany Cobb. Cobb touched home after freshman right fielder Candace Shubert singled to center field and make it a 2-0 ball game.

Lady Flames starting pitcher Jessica Pike shut down North Georgia for the remainder of the game. The SSAC co­Pitcher of the Year pitched a complete game and allowed only six hits and two earned runs.

In the sixth inning, SSAC Player of the Year Kelly Golden blasted a home run over the left field wall to cut the Saints lead to one. LU could not muster any more offense though, as Willis struck out two of the last three batters in the seventh inning to give North Georgia the win.

The Saints will look to defend their conference tournament crown and win their third consecutive conference tournament tomorrow afternoon against the winner of the final elimination bracket game. The Lady Flames will await the winner of the Faulkner/Georgia Southwestern game in the finals of the elimination bracket.

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