A walk off grand slam from Thompson gave the Saints a win in their first PBC game in program history as North Georgia overcame a 4-1 deficit in the final inning to win 6-4.

The first six innings of the game were a pitching duel between Saints junior starter Dana Lowery and Lady Bobcats sophomore pitcher Libby Kidd. Lowery pitched seven strong innings and allowed three runs while striking out five. Kidd was just as impressive with seven strikeouts and four earned runs in six innings of work.

GCSU got on the board with a run in the second inning off of an RBI single by senior left fielder Audrea Baker to bring in sophomore pinch runner Ashley Payne. Two more runs were tallied by the Lady Bobcats in the fourth with another RBI single by Baker who later scored on a double by sophomore catcher Shelbie Lindsey. North Georgia got on the board in the bottom of the fourth with Thompson’s first homer of the game. GCSU struck right back with an RBI single from sophomore right fielder Brianna Hope to go up 4-1 heading into the final frame.

Barnes led off the bottom of the seventh inning with a blast over the left field wall to cut the Lady Bobcats lead to 4-2. A couple of hits and a walk surrendered by freshman reliever Mandy Chandler filled the bases with no outs to put the win within reach of the Saints. A couple of quick outs put North Georgia in the hole and set the stage for Thompson’s heroics.

Thompson finished the game a perfect 4-for-4 with two home runs, five RBI’s, and two runs scored. Lowery picked up her second win of the season while Chandler was the hard luck loser.

Sophomore starter Rachel Bridges struggled in the first inning of game two as she gave up two runs, but she settled down and left goose eggs on the board for the remainder of her time in the circle. Chandler shook off the walk-off slam from game one and pitched a gem until the fifth inning when she gave up a long ball to Barnes.

With the score tied heading into the bottom of the seventh once again, North Georgia loaded the bases and looked poised to rip another game away from GCSU. With one out, Chandler calmly struck out the first batter and induced a pop-up to send the game into extra innings. Over the next three extra innings she did not allow a batter to reach base and let the Lady Bobcats offense go to work.

GCSU put runners on in the eighth and ninth innings, but was unable to rattle reliever Lowery. The Lady Bobcats finally broke through with the bases loaded off of a single from junior center fielder Deidra Baitey, which sent two runners across the plate. A single by freshman designated player Kindsey Swanson put one more on the board to finish the game off for GCSU 5-2.

Chandler picked up her fifth win of the year in 10 innings of work and tallied seven strikeouts and did not walk a batter. Lowery took the loss in relief and fell to 2-1 overall in the Saints young season. She struck out one and scattered nine hits.

North Georgia will play again tomorrow as they take on the University of West Georgia in Carrollton at 1:00 p.m. The Lady Bobcats will play again on Thursday as they take on Belmont Abbey College in North Carolina at 2:00 p.m.