Friday, March 16, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: David Beall, Sports Information Assistant

SAINTS TAKE GAME ONE FROM LANDER
Curtis tosses complete game shutout, Saints’ first of the season

DAHLONEGA, Ga. – North Georgia College & State University took advantage of two defensive errors to score three runs early, and added three runs in the eighth to take game one of a three game series 6-0 from Lander University here on a cold and windy Friday night. Chris Curtis picked up his fourth win of the season in nine shutout innings, scattering eight hits and striking out five in the compete game.

The Saints loaded the bases with two outs in the second for Andre Airich who got hit by a pitch to bring Brett George to the plate for a 1-0 lead. Josh Tate followed with a grounder to short that should have ended the inning, but a bobble by R.J. Milford allowed Tate to reach and Creston Warner to cross home to take a 2-0 advantage. Kevin Morrison ended the inning a fly to center to cap the Saints two-out rally and put a lid on the second frame.

North Georgia added to their lead in the fifth with more two-out magic, as Justin Rickett hit a routine flyball to centerfield, but TJ Guinan botched the play and allowed Morrison to score from first and Rickett to reach second. The error was the Bearcats second of the game, both of which allowed runs, this time scoring the Saints third run of the game for a 3-0 lead.

Lander (10-16, 3-10 PBC) had their chance in the eighth with two on and only one out, but a groundout by Milford and a fly to left by Jonathan Myers ended the Bearcats threat with another zero on the board. Two costly errors lead to three of the Saints runs and ultimately a game one 6-0 loss. Lander’s tough luck loser was Justin Altman who falls to 4-2 on the year as he allowed 10 hits and six runs (two unearned), while throwing 128 pitches in 7.2 innings of work.

In the eighth, The Saints added three insurance runs on singles by Oster, George (the first of his career), and Warner lined a ball down the left field line to score Oster for a 4-0 lead. Petitti followed with a liner to left to plate George and Warner to give the Saints a 6-0 game one win.

North Georgia (12-11, 4-3 PBC) will return to action on Saturday March 17 for a doubleheader with Lander University to wrap up a three game series starting at 2 pm.  

-NGCSU-

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