Sunday, March 25, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Travis Jarome, Sports Information Director

SAINTS EXPLODE FOR 15 RUNS IN GAME ONE, SPLIT PBC DH
Saints are 7-1 in Peach Belt Conference play, return against Augusta State Tuesday

AIKEN, S.C. - North Georgia College & State University earned a Peach Belt Conference split with USC Aiken on the road here Sunday afternoon, maintaining their slim conference lead.

Leading just 1-0 after two innings, the Saints exploded for 14 runs over the next two innings to earn the win in game one, 15-1.

Senior Brooke Kesler led off the inning with a walk, and then she advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from freshman Laura Voyles. The senior scored when sophomore Whitney Propes reached on a error by USC Aiken. Propes scored to give North Georgia a 3-0 lead on a Page Raynor double. Following a strikeout for the second out of the inning and a walk to freshman Jessica Skeels, junior outfielder Candace Shubert tripled home both runners to five North Georgia a 5-0 lead. The junior would trot home when the next batter, Meigan Grimm, connected for a two-run homerun which gave North Georgia a 7-0 lead.

The next inning was even bigger for the Saints, when they scored eight runs to take a 15-0 lead. The highlight of the inning was a grand slam off the bat of freshman Leslee Smith that blew the game open.

Andrea Moss (13-3) got the win with a one-hit performance over three innings.

In the nightcap, USC Aiken (26-17, 5-9 PBC) recovered in game two, using an RBI single from Megan Lakes in the bottom of the eighth inning to down visiting North Georgia (22-11, 7-1 PBC) 2-1 Sunday in Peach Belt Conference softball action. The Lady Pacers dealt the conference-leading Lady Saints their first loss in PBC play this season.

USC Aiken jumped ahead in game two in the bottom of the third when freshman Sherelle Brooks singled and eventually scored on a wild pitch. North Georgia forced extra innings, tying the second game with a run in the top of the sixth on a solo home run by Laura Voyles.

In the bottom of the eighth, Brooks doubled off the left field wall with one out. After Keshia Venable popped up to short, the Saints elected to intentionally walk Jessica Strickland. Brooks and Strickland both moved up a base on a double steal before Lakes’ single plated Brooks with the game-winner.

The winning run earned the win for freshman Toni Flessate (7-4), who pitched effectively. Flessate allowed just four hits and the one earned run while walking none and striking out four. Andrea Moss (13-4) took the loss, giving up two earned runs on five hits while walking one and striking out six.

Brooks provided almost all of the offense, getting four of the team’s five hits, stealing three bases, and scoring both runs.

North Georgia returns to action on Tuesday against Augusta State at 2 pm at the NGCSU Softball Complex. The game will be part of Cancer Awareness Day at North Georgia, with all donations going to help find a cure. The Saints will wear pink uniforms and will honor cancer survivors between games.

-NGCSU-

Related Item: Box Score
Related Item: Box Score

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