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Wednesday, February 16, 2005

#7 NORTH GEORGIA CRUISES PAST #10 CUMBERLAND 11-3

Dahlonega, Ga. – Scoring 11 runs for the second straight game, seventh ranked North Georgia College & State University defeated #10 Cumberland College 11-3 Thursday afternoon at the NGCSU Baseball Complex.

The Patriots (2-3) got out to a three run lead after scoring two in the first inning and one in the second. Senior left fielder Roman Cox tripled to left center field to score the first run for Cumberland and later scored on a wild pitch in the first. A sacrifice fly in the second inning by junior second baseman B.J. Foley scored a run in the second, but it was the only run that the Saints (13-4) pitching staff would give up for the remainder of the game.

Led by sophomore starting pitcher Brannon Sikes (Acworth, Ga.), North Georgia only allowed six hits on the day with Sikes striking out six batters and senior reliever Justin Stowe (Marietta, Ga.) struck out three. Sikes picked up his first win of the season and Stowe won his first save.

The Saints did all of their damage in the second and seventh inning as they scored nine runs in the two innings. With two runs scored, two outs, and two runners on base in the second inning, junior second baseman Brian Lauderdale (Roswell, Ga.) singled to left field for two of his three RBI's on the day and give North Georgia a 4-3 lead.

Lauderdale led the rally in the seventh as well with a screaming home run to lead off the inning. With three runs in, freshman center fielder Jason Chambers (Powder Springs, Ga.) knocked in two more runs to give North Georgia the 11-3 lead.

Junior first baseman Brett Leja (Miami, Fla.) had another big day at the plate after going three-for-four with two runs and one RBI. Leja batted .625 (5-for-8) in the two game series with three runs and two RBI's. Lauderdale also performed well in the series after hitting .600 (6-for-10) with one home run, six RBI's, and two runs.

Saints head coach Tom Cantrell will be going for his 400 career win this weekend as North Georgia host Faulkner University for a three game series starting at 3:00 p.m. on Friday. Cumberland will travel to Mayfield, Ky. to play Mid Continent College this Saturday at noon for a double header.

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