Sunday, February 19, 2006

BERRY DELIVERS 4-2 VICTORY OVER SAINTS

Pensacola, Fla. – Coming off a double header sweep on Saturday, junior Jordan Berry limited North Georgia to only one run over 6 2/3 innings as West Florida won 4-2. The Saints and Argonauts finished with a split of their four-game series.

West Florida improves to 10-6, while North Georgia falls to 6-6.

Berry was in control early, striking out three of the first six batters. In the third inning, North Georgia loaded the bases with two out, but Berry induced a fly ball to center field to end the inning. Meanwhile, West Florida put the lead off batter on in each of the first three innings, but all three runners were cut down on the base paths. North Georgia picked off Josh Loosier in the first, and caught Clay Wallace and Jason Kohl trying to steal in the second and third innings, respectively.

With one out and no one on in the bottom of the fourth, Wallace put West Florida on the scoreboard with his third home run of the season off of Saints reliever Dustin Wellborn. Wallace has hit both Argonaut home runs at Pelican Park at UWF this season. West Florida added to their lead in the sixth against the Saints bullpen. With Peter Antoske at second base and two outs, Ryan Stropolo greeted Saints reliever Eric Williams with an infield single. After Stropolo stole second to put runners at second and third, Josh Windham doubled to right center field to push the West Florida lead to 3-0.

North Georgia answered with a run in the top of the seventh on a Dusty Tate RBI single up the middle. Fred Fosson relieved Berry and got Brian Lauderdale to ground out to third to end the inning. West Florida reclaimed their three-run lead in the bottom of the seventh inning on an RBI single by Bo Williams. It was Williams’s eight RBI in his last eight games. North Georgia picked up another single run in the top of the eighth. The Saints collected three straight hits after two outs, capped off by a Ryan Gurley RBI single. With North Georgia trailing 4-2, Erik Good represented the go-ahead run with two runners on. But Good grounded out to third to end the threat and the inning.

Berry (2-0), who has also played first base and third base this season, allowed one run on five hits, while striking out six and walking two in 6 2/3 innings. Fosson picked up his fourth save of the season by allowing one run on three hits in 2 1/3 innings. Wellborn (0-1) suffered the loss after allowing one run on three hits in 2 2/3 innings.

The Saints return to action on Wednesday at home as they take on the University of Montevallo at 3:00 p.m. West Florida returns to the diamond on Fri., Feb. 24, against St. Edwards. First pitch for Friday’s game is set for 6 p.m. at Pelican Park at UWF.

Box Score

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