Saturday, March 1, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: David Beall, Sports Information Director

SAINTS SPLIT DOUBLE DIP WITH LANDER IN PBC PLAY
Two teams to play rubber game tomorrow afternoon

Game 1 | Game 2

GREENWOOD, SC – North Georgia College & State University scored three runs in the ninth to take game one 5-4, but lost an 11-9 shootout in the nightcap to split a pair with Lander University in Peach Belt Conference action.

In game one, North Georgia found themselves trailing 4-2 heading to the ninth inning, but recorded their first last at-bat win of the season, scoring three runs on just two hits to take the lead. Davy Wallach was hit by a pitch to force in a run, and Neil Krock brought home a run as he hit into a double play to bring Craig Brisson to the plate with a tie game and two outs. Brisson promptly doubled over the center fielder’s head to give the Saints their first lead of the game 5-4.

Zach Black retired the Bearcats in order in the bottom of the ninth, earning his second save of the season as Jacob Rickett (1-1) got the win in relief of starting pitcher Chris Curtis.

In game two, the Saints took the lead in the top of the first inning when Andre Airich doubled to short right and later scored on Daniel Petitti’s infield single. North Georgia increased their lead to 3-0 in the third when Brisson singled and Flanigan followed with a towering two-run homer over the right-field fence.

North Georgia added a run in the fourth when Anders Oster walked, moved to second on Chad Sage’s bunt, and scored on Krock’s two-out single, making it 4-0. Lander’s Robert Skinner cut it to a 4-3 North Georgia lead in the fifth when he homered over the fence in left center, but The Saints increased their lead to 6-3 in the sixth on a Davy Wallach’s double to left.

The Bearcats rallied in the sixth with four runs to take a 7-6 lead, but Brisson once again was the man of the hour, hitting a leadoff homer in the top of the seventh to tie the game 7-7. Lander's Arnette would break the tie in the bottom half of the inning on a his first home run of the season, a two run shot over the left-field fence to give the Bearcats a 9-7 advantage. The Saints closed to within a run at 9-8 in the eighth when Oster singled, moved to second on a Sage walk, to third on Wallach’s single, and scored when Krock grounded out to the pitcher.

Lander would extend their lead to 11-8 in the eighth on a two-run single by McCann. North Georgia threatened in the ninth but only managed to score once on a sacrifice fly by Oster as the Saints dropped game two 11-9.

Caleb Copeland (0-1) suffered the loss, pitching the eighth inning and allowing three hits and three runs. James Wiley started the contest and lasted five innings, surrendering seven hits and three runs while striking out two.

North Georgia (7-8, 2-3 PBC) will play the final game of the series against the Bearcats Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m.

-NGCSU-

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