Saturday, April 14, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Travis Jarome, Sports Information Director

SAINTS UPSET GCSU, CANTRELL WINS 500th GAME
Creston Warner drives in three, Kevin Morrison steals homerun away from Bobcats   

MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. – North Georgia College & State University took advantage of their opportunities on Saturday afternoon, upsetting eighth-ranked Georgia College & State University 5-2 in Peach Belt Conference action, handing head coach Tom Cantrell his 500th career coaching victory.

Senior first baseman Creston Warner delivered the big hit for the Saints on the afternoon, but not before North Georgia reached GCSU starter Michael Antonini (7-3) in the third inning. After Antonini struck out four Saints in the first six outs of the contest, the Saints' scored two runs in the third inning, both courtesy of walks. Freshman outfielder Kevin Morrison and freshman designated hitter Brad Hall were issued the free passes, and after a sacrifice bunt moved the runners into scoring position, freshman outfielder Craig Brisson drove in Morrison with a single, while Hall scored on a sacrifice fly by Andre Airich for a 2-0 lead.

The Bobcats answered back, however, scoring a run in the bottom half of the third inning. Casey Cullen, in his first start since being injured March 2, doubled to drive in Daniel Heflin who was walked earlier in the inning. With two outs in the inning, GCSU's Rich Janofsky blasted the first he saw in his at-bat to left for an apparant homerun. However, Morrison brought the ball back into the park with a spectacular catch for the Saints to end the inning, and perserve the 2-1 lead.

Warner blew the game open in the sixth inning with a bases-loaded double, following a trio of singles by Brisson, Airich and Tate to push the lead to 5-1.

GCSU tried to make the game close when Brandon Anderson hit a solo homerun in the seventh inning to trim the lead to 5-2, but that is as close as the Bobcats could get on this milestone afternoon.

Zach Black (1-5) picked up the victory for North Georgia, working 2 2/3 innings of relief. He allowed just one hit, while striking out two in the appearance. Freshman Mike Peters recorded his sixth save of the season, working an inning and giving up two hits, while striking out two.

However, the day belonged to Cantrell who recorded his 500th career coaching victory in his 12th season. During his tenure at North Georgia, he has amassed a 323-168 record over seven-plus seasons. His win total is a combination of his time at North Georgia and Georgia Perimeter (DeKalb College). Cantrell has won three conference championships and two regional championships during his time at North Georgia, while he won three conference championships at DeKalb. He also guided DeKalb to the Junior College World Series during his time at the school.

North Georgia will mark the milestone with a special presentation on April 24 against West Georgia.

North Georgia (25-18, 11-8 PBC) and GCSU (35-10, 17-5) play a doubleheader on Sunday beginning at 2 pm in Milledgeville.

-NGCSU-

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