Friday, April 14, 2006

SAINTS RALLY EARLY BUT FALL LATE TO VALDOSTA STATE

Dahlonega, Ga. – North Georgia College and State University took a brief lead over Valdosta State University before allowing four runs in the sixth inning to fall 9-3 in their second game of the Fire Mountain Classic.

The Blazers (34-16) got off to a quick start against the Saints with two first inning runs off Dana Lowery. Holly Willis drove in the first run and then scored on a RBI single from Amy Gaiss to give VSU a 2-0 early lead.

The Saints (24-18) put a rally together in the second inning that saw sophomore Tootie Johnson push a run across with a one out double down the first base line that scored Krista Bess. Bess, who had led off the inning with a single, was Johnson’s 11th RBI of the year and cut the Blazers lead in half at 2-1. Later in the inning, Brittany Cobb came up with the bases jammed, but grounded out to the second baseman to end the inning.

In the third inning, North Georgia got back on the board when Lara Seamon came to the plate with the bases full and was hit by a pitch with a full count to plate Candace Shubert and tie the game 2-2. Johnson then walked to the plate and hit a sacrifice fly to the second baseman to score Lynsey Thompson and give the Saints a 3-2 lead heading to the fourth inning.

The Blazers put together back-to-back walks and a single by Trele Edwards to tie the game 3-3 in the top of the fourth. In the fifth, VSU added another run on a single by Becca Aszman that scored pitch runner Anatasia Clinch. The sixth inning saw the Blazers add four more runs including a sacrifice fly by Aszman to score Caroline Cripe and take an 8-3 lead over the Saints.

The Blazers kept pouring on runs as ballgame moved to the seventh inning. A two out double to right center by Willis scored Edwards as they beat the Saints 9-3.

Rachel Bridges took the loss in relief as she tossed 3.1 innings and allowed three earned runs. Bridges’ record falls to 10-10 on the year.  VSU pitcher Brianna Collis picks up the win as she pitched in relief and improves to 6-3 on the late season.

Play will resume tomorrow at the Fire Mountain Classic as Northern Kentucky will take on Valdosta State University in the first game at 12pm. North Georgia will then follow and play NKU at 2pm and finish up with VSU at 4pm.

Box Score

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