Saturday, March 25, 2006

SAINTS AND BRAVES SPLIT DOUBLE-HEADER

Dahlonega, Ga. – North Georgia College & State University came from behind to take game one 6-5, and UNC Pembroke scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh to take game two 8-5.

In game one, the Braves (18-21, 2-10 PBC) got on the board first with a two-out run scoring double by Meredith Veglia in the top of the first inning. The Saints (10-12, 2-8 PBC) answered back in the bottom of the inning after a throwing error by the third baseman scored Candace Shubert to tie the game 1-1. Pembroke threatened with two on and two out in the second inning, but starting pitcher Rachel Bridges struck out Danielle Peters to end the inning.

The Saints took their first lead of the game in the bottom of the second off a throwing error by first baseman Wendi Cochran scored Rachael Norris and Brooke Kesler to give North Georgia a 3-1 lead that they would never surrender.

After Pembroke cut the North Georgia lead to one, 3-2, with a run in the top of the third, North Georgia answered back in the bottom of the inning with a two-run homer by senior shortstop Lynsey Thompson. The Saints added a single run in the sixth inning and the Braves tallied two runs in the seventh as the Saints took game one 6-5.

Bridges went six innings for the Saints, giving up three runs to claim her third win of the season.  The win moves her record to 3-5 on the year.  Dana Lowery entered the game in the seventh and allowed two run before leaving the game.

In game two, the Saints jumped on the board first when right fielder Shubert raced to the plate on a wild pitch by Braves pitcher Laura Goldstein to claim a 1-0 lead. 

Pembroke tied the game in the top of the fourth inning on a run scoring triple by Cochran with nobody out. Starting pitcher Bridges then struck out two of the next three batters and stranded a runner at third base to keep the score locked at 1-1.  The Saints threatened in the bottom of the inning as they had two runners reach base with only one out but were unable to push across a run.

In the top of the fifth inning, the Braves struck for three runs, including a two-run shot over the left field wall by sophomore Brittany Berrier to take a 4-1 lead over North Georgia. The Saints came right back in the bottom of the inning with RBI singles from Brittany Barnes and Meigan Grimm to pull within one run at 4-3. The Saints continued to rally as they used a double by Page Raynor and an RBI single by Kesler to tie the game. Two batters later, Shubert rolled a ball up the middle to score Kesler and give North Georgia a 5-4 lead. Just minutes later in the top of the seventh the Braves showed they still had a rally left as they put a string of hits together and pushed 4 runs across to give UNC Pembroke an 8-5 win.

Bridges went the distance for the Saints and picked up the tough loss as she falls to 3-6 on the season.

Box Score, Game 1

Box Score, Game 2

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