Wednesday, April 16, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: David Beall, Sports Information Director

SAINTS PULL OUT 10-9 AFFAIR AGAINST WARRIORS
North Georgia to close out PBC schedule over weekend

Box Score

DAHLONEGA, GA – North Georgia College & State University found themselves down again late, but scored four runs in the seventh and a single run in the eighth to come away with another wild win and hold off Southern Wesleyan University 10-9 Wednesday evening under the lights in non-conference action.

The Saints keep winning and push their record to 29-17, dropping just one game over the last 15 days, while the Warriors fall to 29-19 on the season.

North Georgia found themselves in a slugfest for the second straight night as the two teams combined for 22 hits and 19 runs while six errors were committed in the field.

The Saints jumped on top early as Rob Flanigan continued where he left off the night before, blasting another home run, this time a towering fly ball that sailed over the scoreboard in right-center in the opening frame to give North Georgia a 2-0 lead. Andre Airich would follow with a single, sending Josh Tate to the plate who delivered a two-out RBI double off the fence in left field, scoring Airich and giving the home team a 3-0 first inning lead.

The Warriors would come right back in the third with a pair of unearned runs as an arrent throw on a pick-off attempt at first base allowed two runs to score and bring Southern Wesleyan to within a run at 3-2. Two innings later the defense hurt the Saints again as two more errors led to a five spot by the Warriors. Kevin Brown had the big blow, a two-out single to plate two runs and give Southern Wesleyan a 6-3 advantage.

The Saints would answer in the bottom of the inning as Josh Tate singled home two more runs to make it 6-5.

The Warriors would add single runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings as Kellen Kmiecik homered in the seventh, but single runs would not be enough in this slugfest as the Saints answered the call one last time with four runs in the seventh and another run in the eighth for the 10-9 victory.

Josh Tate unloaded on another ball in the seventh and blasted his sixth home run of the year, a two run shot to left-center to pull the Saints to within a run once again. North Georgia added another run in the inning to set up a sacrifice fly by Daniel Petitti in the eighth, giving the Saints a lead they would never relinquish.

Jacob Ricket (4-2) came on in relief to pick up the win, tossing an inning and two-thirds for the victory. The Saints used six pitchers on the night and allowed just three earned runs out of the nine the Warriors put on the board.

Dustin Belk (2-1) suffered the loss for Southern Welseyan, going an inning and one-third and allowing two hits, a walk, and a run while striking out a batter.

North Georgia (29-17, 13-11 PBC) returns to action on Saturday, April 19, as they open their final Peach Belt Conference series of the year, hosting Georgia Southwestern University for two games on Saturday and a single contest afternoon.

-NGCSU-

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