Friday, April 14, 2006

SAINTS FALL TO NKU IN TOURNAMENT OPENER

Dahlonega, Ga. – North Georgia College and State University rallied with two out in the fifth, but fell 5-4 to Northern Kentucky University in game one of the Fire Mountain Classic. Brooke Kesler went a perfect 3-3 in the game and drove in two runs.

Northern Kentucky (26-13) jumped on the Saints in the first with a leadoff walk by Ricki Rothbauer followed by a run scoring triple from Heather Cotner to give the Norse a 1-0 lead. NKU tacked on another run with single to left by Sarah King that scored Cotner and gave the Norse a 2-0 advantage after a half inning.

North Georgia (24-17) got on the board in the second inning with a double from catcher Kesler to score Rachel Norris and pull the Saints to within a run. The next batter, Krista Bess hustled out an infield single to score Tootie Johnson and tie the game 2-2 after two innings.

The Saints continued the offensive drive as they took the lead in the bottom of the third off a Lara Seamon two out RBI single to score Lynsey Thompson and give the Saints the lead at 3-2.

The Norse took the lead right back in the fifth inning as Amanda Smith stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded and only one out. She guided a grounder right up the middle to score Rothbauer and Kara Lorenz to go up 4-3 on the Saints. NKU added one more run in the inning on an error that plated Jessica Feldhaus and gave the Norse a 5-3 lead.

North Georgia fought right back in the bottom half of the fifth with a two out rally that included three hits and an RBI single from Kesler that scored Norris and pulled the Saints to within a run at 5-4. For Kesler it was her third hit of the day and second RBI.

North Georgia had one last shot in the bottom of the seventh, but Johnson grounded out to third to end the ballgame and fall to the Norse 5-4.

Rachel Bridges went the distance for the Saints as she picked up the tough loss and falls to 10-9 on the year. Candace White got the rock for NKU and picked up her 12th win of the year. Smith pitched in relief and grabbed her first save of the season.

Box Score

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