Saturday, April 21, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: David Beall, Assistant Sports Information Director

SAINTS DROP A PAIR TO PATRIOTS
Final game of the series tomorrow afternoon

DAHLONEGA, Ga. – North Georgia College & State University dropped both games of a double header to Francis Marion here Saturday afternoon. In game one the Patriots shutout the Saints 3-0, and came from behind for a 6-4 extra innings win in game two.

In game one, the Patriots got on the board for the first run of the game in the third inning without the benefit of a run. Justin Greene drove on the first run of the game on a sacrifice fly to deep center which was hauled in by Josh Tate but had no chance to throw out David Bounds who raced to the plate for a 1-0 lead. Bounds had reached on a walk and was sacrificed over before scoring on the fly ball.

In the fifth, Greene added to the Francis Marion lead with a two-run homer to half up the hill over the fence in left field to score Derek Kennamer for a 3-0 lead.

The Saints put up a scoring threat in the sixth with singles from Brad Hall and Craig Brisson, but Airich grounded out into a double play to end the inning and put another zero on the home side of the scoreboard.

The Saints finally came to life in the bottom of the ninth with a one out single from Rickett and Creston Warner followed and sent a ball down the left field line for a double to push Rickett over to third. Morrison then hit with a groundout right back to the pitcher for the second out of the inning and Oster rolled a ball to second to end the Saints rally with a 3-0 loss in game one of the double-header.

Dylan Owen (8-1) picked up the win for Patriots with eight shutout innings. Owen allowed just five hits while striking out 11 Saints. Brannon Sikes (3-4) got the loss in five and 2/3 innings of work. Sikes allowed just three hits, but five walks led to three earned runs.

In game two, the Saints got on the board first with a single up the middle to plate Justin Rickett just under the tag at home plate for a 1-0 lead. The lead was short lived though as the Patriots came right back in the fourth with two runs of their own. Nick Stewart tied the game as he came home to score on a fielder’s choice, and a sacrifice fly to left by Andy Howes brought Ryan Hypke home for a 2-1 fourth inning lead.

The very next inning the Saints finally broke out with three runs on four hits to take the lead again. Anders Oster stood at second with two outs in what looked like another unsuccessful innings, but the Saints put a two out rally together three consecutive RBI hits to take a 4-2 lead. Brisson started it with a bloop single to left to bring Oster to the plate, followed by a double by Andre Airich to plate Oster, and finally Tate singled to plate Airich and cap a three run inning to give the Saints a 4-2 lead.

In the sixth, the Patriots put their second two run inning together to tie the game 4-4. Howes singled home Stewart for the first run of the inning and Phelps singled to plate Josh Smith for the second run of the inning to tie the game.

In the eighth, the Patriots took the lead one last time on a single up the middle by Greene to bring Nick Norfleet and Phelps to the plate for a 6-4 win.

Michael Williams (6-2) picked up the win in two innings of work while Zach Farry picked up his second save of the day. Don Brice (4-2) got the loss in one and 2/3 innings giving up a run on two hits.

North Georgia (27-17, 12-9 PBC) returns to action on Sunday, April 22, as they wrap up a three game series with Francis Marion at 1 pm.   

-NGCSU-

Related Item: Box Score (Game One)
Related Item: Box Score (Game Two)

Return to Baseball