Friday, April 6, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Travis Jarome, Sports Information Director

COLUMBUS STATE POWERS PAST NORTH GEORGIA
Josh Tate collects pair of hits for North Georgia in loss

DAHLONEGA, Ga. – The eighth-ranked Columbus State University Cougars used a pair of homeruns and strong outing from starting pitcher Korey Noles to shutout North Georgia College & State University, 7-0, here in Peach Belt Conference baseball action on a cold Friday evening.

The Cougars wasted little time getting on the board, as the second batter of the game, Kurt Mckee hit a 2-2 pitch over the left- centerfield wall for a 1-0 lead.  They would add a run in each the second and third innings to take a 3-0 lead.  They would a pair of runs in the fifth when Drew Candlin singled to leftfield with two outs, and took second on a ball in the dirt that set the stage for third baseman Brad Linton.  Linton hit a two-run homerun to leftfield off of North Georgia starter Chris Curtis (5-3) for a 5-0 lead.

Columbus State (31-9, 15-7) would add a run in each the seventh and eighth innings to top off the scoring, giving Noles (6-3) all the run support he would need.  Noles went seven shutout innings, allowing just three hits, walking two and striking out five Saints.  Blake Norrell and Johnny Floyd each pitched a shutout inning of relief for Columbus State.

Curtis suffered the loss, going seven innings and allowing six runs (five earned runs) on 10 hits.  He walked two and struck out six on the night.  Dustin Wellborn came on in relief, pitching two innings and allowing one run off of three this, striking out two batters.

Mckee led the Cougars at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI, while Linton went 2-for-2 with three runs batted in and a run scored.  Drew Candlin and Trent Bianco added a pair of hits each in the Cougars’ victory.

Josh Tate went 2-for-3 with a double, while Andre Airich added the lone other hit for North Georgia (23-14, 10-6 PBC).

The two teams meet in a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 pm at the NGCSU Baseball Complex.

-NGCSU-

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