Saturday, February 17, 2007

SAINTS SWEEP UNC PEMBROKE IN PEACH BELT PLAY
North Georgia continues offensive onslaught

Pembroke, N.C. - (AP) North Georgia College & State University swept UNC Pembroke in a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader Saturday afternoon at LRA Softball Field, taking game one 11-2 and game two 12-4 in the PBC opener for both teams.

UNCP (5-5, 0-2 PBC) falls to .500 on the season while NGCSU improves to 6-1 with a 2-0 mark in the PBC. The Saints continued their hot streak on offense after defeating Belmont Abbey on Friday afternoon scoring 26 runs in two games. North Georgia has now scored 49 runs in four games.

Freshman Heather Hayslip was 2-for-5 at the plate today with a double, two runs batted in, and one hit-by-pitch. Senior Megan Rusk was also 2-for-5 offensively accounting for two total bases.

Third-baseman Meigan Grimm was an impressive 4-for-5 at the plate with one RBI, two walks, one hit-by-pitch while accounting for five runs. First-baseman Page Raynor also had four hits in the two games, driving in seven runs with a grand slam in game one.

The Braves will go on to face Chowan on Wednesday, February 21 on the campus of the Hawks in Murfreesboro, N.C. with game time set for 2 p.m. North Georgia will host Erskine on Tuesday in a doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m.

In game one the Saints broke the scoreless tie in the top of the fourth inning off of a Natasha Willemse double to left-center, which scored two runs.

The Braves answered in their half of the fourth when Wendi Cochran singled to drive in Brittany Berrier. Katie Rubio hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield to score Cochran, who advanced to third on a wild pitch and a ground out.

The 2-2 tie would not hold up long as the Saints' Jessica Skeels singled with runners on second and third to score one run, only to have Raynor homer with two outs and the bases loaded to make the score 7-2.

North Georgia would add four more runs in the sixth and seventh innings to take game one of the twin-bill 11-2.

Pitcher Andrea Moss (4-0) won her fourth-straight game going seven innings giving up two runs on eight hits with six strikeouts. Candace Evans (2-2) was credited with the loss for the Braves giving up 11 runs on 11 hits with six walks and striking out seven batters.

Game two saw North Georgia take an early lead in the top of the second. Krista Bess doubled to drive in one run and then scored herself from second off of a throwing error by catcher Randi Pruitt.

The Braves would answer once again in their half of the inning. Anna Williamson would hit a sac fly to drive in Katie Rubio from third, Rubio having walked to reach base, advanced to second on a Pruitt single, and reached third when Hayslip was hit by a pitch. Hayslip would score on an
error by North Georgia's second baseman.

The top half of the third would be a big inning for North Georgia as the Saints scored four runs on four hits. Courtney McGuire got a two-out triple and was brought home on a Grimm single to the shortstop. Grimm would then score on a Raynor single to left. Brooke Kesler doubled to drive in two and the Saints held a 6-2 advantage.

North Georgia would explode for six runs in the sixth inning to take a 12-2 lead over the Braves. UNCP managed to score two runs when Hayslip doubled with two runners on base, but the Saints were up by eight-runs when the final out of the inning was recorded.

Trisha Snider (2-0) got the win for North Georgia going four innings giving up two runs (one earned) on one hit striking out two and walking one. Mara Thornton received the loss for the Braves as she falls to 3-3 on the season.

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

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