Friday, February 29, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: David Beall, Sports Information Director

#16 SAINTS TAKE PAIR FROM ERSKINE
North Georgia allows just one run in double-header sweep

Game 1 | Game 2 | Game Notes

DAHLONEGA, GA – The 16th-ranked North Georgia College & State University softball team got back in the win column Friday afternoon with a 10-0 and 2-1 double-header sweep over Erskine College in non-conference action at the Softball Complex.

In game one, North Georgia came to bat in the fourth inning with a two run lead, but exploded for eight runs on seven hits. Kayla Martin got the scoring started with her first collegiate long ball, a leadoff homer down the left field line to give the Saints a 3-0 lead. North Georgia would then use consecutive RBI hits from Leslee Smith, Courtney McGuire, and Jessica Skeels to break the game open and make it a 10-0 five inning win in the opener.

Sarah Phillips (6-2) picked up the win, tossing a complete game two-hit shutout and striking out eight to push her strikeout total to 58 on the season. Lauren Gunter suffered the loss in 3.2 innings of work, allowing nine hits and eight earned runs while striking out two.

In game two, the Saints jumped out to an early lead in the first inning with a solo home run off the bat of Tiffany Blackburn for a 1-0 lead. For Blackburn, it was her fourth home run of the year and team leading 18th run batted in. McGuire would follow with a double and eventually come around to score on a throwing error to give North Georgia a first inning two-run advantage.

After the early lead, Trish Snider (3-0) took the mound for the Saints and shut down the Flying Fleet. Erskine would manage to push an unearned run across in the third as Kerry Fincher raced home on an error to cut the Saints' lead to 2-1, but Snider clamped down and went the distance, allowing just three hits and no earned runs in the 2-1 nightcap win. Rebekah George was the tough luck loser in six innings of work, allowing just two first innings runs and four hits.

North Georgia (12-2) will return to action at home against Georgia College on Tuesday, March 4, as the Saints open their 2008 Peach Belt Conference schedule at 2:00 p.m.

-NGCSU-

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