Saturday, April 22, 2006

SPARTANS SWEEP DOUBLE-HEADER FROM SAINTS

Dahlonega, Ga. – USC Upstate used a five run, ninth inning rally to take game one 7-4 and a three run sixth inning was all the Spartans would need to hold off North Georgia College & State University 3-0 in game two.

In game one, North Georgia (28-26, 6-15) jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the first inning when leadoff hitter Brian Lauderdale sailed the second pitch he saw over the right field fence. For Lauderdale, it was his second home run of the season and 30th RBI.

USC Upstate (31-20, 12-12) fought right back in the second frame as they loaded the bases with no outs before catcher Bret Story grounded into a double-play to score Michael Kohn and tie the game 1-1. North Georgia’s starting pitcher Tom Bradley faced Josh Clark and used a sweeping curveball to catch him looking and end the inning with a runner stranded at third base.

The Spartans took their first lead of the day in the fourth on a groundout by Andrew Runion to score Bret Hanson and give Upstate a 2-1 lead. In the bottom half of the inning Josh Tate came to the plate with runners on the corners and two outs as he lined a ball just out of reach of the second baseman to score Erik Good and tie the game 2-2. Next up, Davy Wallach was determined to give the Saints the lead as he lined the ball right back up the middle to plate Anders Oster and Tate to put a three spot on the board in the forth inning give North Georgia a 4-2 lead.

For the second straight day, the Spartans came alive in the ninth inning with single by Kyle Bowley to plate a run and pull Upstate within a run. With only one out John Caddell grounded to shortstop for the second out of the inning, but Story raced to the plate during the play and tied the game 4-4. The game was only tied for a batter as Brad Wingo followed with a single up the middle to score Bowley and give the Spartans a 5-4 lead. Hanson got in on the scoring as he doubled of the wall in left centerfield to drive in his team-leading 47th run of the year. Upstate ended the inning putting a five spot on the board and used the rally to take a 7-4 ninth inning win.

Dustin Wellborn came on in the ninth and picks up the loss for the Saints. Wellborn was charged with two runs and falls to 2-4 on the year. Bradley did not receive a decision for the Saints as he went eight strong innings and allowed only two runs, six hits, and struck out five. Bowley grabbed the win for the Spartans as he pitched his first complete game of the year, and allowed four runs and ten hits to improve his record to 4-4 on the season.

In game two, the Saints and Spartans took solid pitching performances into the top of the sixth inning where Upstate came alive at the plate. Wingo led off the inning with a single under the glove of second baseman Barrow for the Spartans fifth hit of the game. Kohn walked, and Bowley was hit by a pitch to load the bases with two outs before Story placed a ball down the right field line to score Wingo and Kohn and give Upstate a 2-0 lead. Mike Colecchi followed with a single to left that scored Bowley and extended the lead to 3-0. The three runs in the sixth frame was all the offense they would need as they held on for a 3-0 win and a double-header sweep of the Saints.

Cory Gilleland started for the Saints and picks up the tough loss as he went the distance and allowed only two earned runs. Gilleland falls to 2-5 in 12 appearances this season. Scott Eckard got the rock for the visiting Spartans and tossed a complete game two-hit shutout to improve to 5-3 on the year.

Box Score Game 1

Box Score Game 2

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