Friday, February 16, 2007

SAINTS SWEEP BELMONT ABBEY
North Georgia continues offensive onslaught, score 26 runs in two games

Charlotte, NC - North Georgia College & State University continued their offensive onslaught to start the 2007 season, sweeping Belmont Abbey College on the road Friday afternoon.

In game one, the Saints defeated Belmont Abbey 11-1 behind the arm of starting pitcher Andrea Moss and the five-RBI performance from freshman Jessica Skeels.

North Georgia jumped ahead of Belmont Abbey quickly in the first game, scoring three runs in the first inning. Laura Voyles began the inning by hitting a single to centerfield, followed by an infield single by Candace Shubert that advanced Voyles to second base. Freshman Courtney McGuire hit into a fielder's choice, in which Voyles was out on the play at third for the first out. Sophomore Meigan Grimm kept the inning alive when she reached on an error by the shortstop, enabling Shubert to score and put North Georgia up 1-0. Skeels started her day with a two-run double to put North Georgia up 3-0.

The onslaught continued in the second inning when the Saints added two more runs. Leslee Smith started the inning by getting walked, followed by Brittany Cobb being hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second. McGuire drove them both in with a double to left to put the Saints up 5-0.

The day just kept getting better for the Saints at the plate, as they scored two more runs in the fourth inning and four more in the fifth to put the game away, and end it in five innings.

Moss (3-0) picked up the victory by pitching a complete game seven-hitter. She walked one and struck out seven.

Skeels led the way at the plate, going 3-for-3 with two doubles and five runs batted in. Cobb went 2-for-2 with a pair of runs of scored and double, while McGuire went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and three runs batted in. Shubert added a pair of hits in the game one victory.

Game two was much the same story, although it took North Georgia 12 outs to get their bats going. And when the bats got going, they exploded in the fifth inning - contributing the first 10-run inning of the season for the Saints.

Following a groundout to start the inning, Whitney Propes beat out an infield single to short, followed by a Cobb double to right centerfield. Voyles hit the first of three homeruns for the Saints in the inning, a three-run shot to right centerfield. Shubert followed that up with a single to center, when McGuire stepped to the plate and hit the second homerun of the inning for the Saints - a two-run shot to right centerfield. Following a Skeels infield single and stolen base, Grimm hit the third homerun of the inning for North Georgia - a two-run shot to centerfield. The inning kept going, as Smith doubled to left. Brooke Kesler singled down the rightfield line and was replaced by Natasha Willemse. She promptly stole second base to put runners at second and third. They were both driven in on a Cobb infield single to complete the 10-run inning.

Nicole Adkison (1-0) picked up the win in relief, pitching two scoreless innings.

Cobb went 3-for-3 in the nightcap to cap a perfect 5-for-5 day. She scored two runs and drove in a pair. Skeels went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and a run batted in. Voyles went 2-for-4 with a double, homerun and four runs batted in. McGuire, Smith and Kesler all added a pair of hits each.

North Georgia (5-1) returns to action Saturday, opening Peach Belt Conference play at UNC Pembroke.

-NGCSU-

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

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