North Georgia will face Francis Marion with title on the line
AIKEN, SC - North Georgia College & State University's Rob Flanigan launched two massive home runs and the Saints defense held the powerful CSU offense in check as they won 5-3, eliminating the Cougars and securing as spot in the championship game of the PBC Tournament.
The Saints, in their first PBC Tournament since
joining the PBC, will need to win one of the two possible games
tomorrow against Francis Marion University as they enter the
championship round without a loss.
The Saints (40-19) got on the board first in the bottom of the
first as Rob Flanigan hit what appeared to be a routine fly ball to
center. But in the warm air, the ball carried and drifted over the
center field wall for a solo home run.
The Saints added two more in the second. After Josh Tate singled
to start the frame, Chad Sage belted an 0-1 pitch of the left field
wall to make the score 3-0. Those were the only two mistakes made
early by CSU starter Phillip Robinson (L, 5-3), who settled down to
retire 13 of the next 14 Saint batters he faced.
Columbus State began their comeback in the third with a single run
on an RBI single from Jonnie Geiger. The Cougars could have had
more with runners on second and third with one out, but a
Rutherford ball hit between second and third hit Geiger as he was
running between the bases, negating the run scored by Casey Cook
and giving the Saints two outs. NGCSU starter Michael Patton (W,
7-2) then induced a groundout to end the inning.
But the Cougars were not done as they plated two more runs in the
top of the sixth to tie the game. Cole Martin began the frame by
sending the second pitch he saw over the left field fence for a
solo home run. A Brandon Masters single later in the inning scored
Cook to tie the game at three.
But the game would not be tied for long as Flanigan came to bat
again in the bottom of the sixth and hit the first pitch from
Robinson over the right field fence. North Georgia added an
insurance run in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI single from
Kevin Morrison that scored Sage.
CSU threatened in the eighth as Patton walked the first two
batters he faced and was lifted for reliever Jacob Rickett. Cook
tried to bunt the runners over for CSU, but Rickett fielded the
ball and threw out Shaun Spearman at third. Geiger then ground into
an inning-ending double play.
The double play again came into play in the ninth as Masters
walked for CSU to begin the frame, but was caught in a 6-4-3 double
play that Rodney Rutherford hit into. A line out to left field
ended the game.
Flanigan finished his big night 2-for-3 with his two solo home
runs. Sage was 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs while Tate also
collected two hits.
Geiger, Masters and Martin all had multiple hits and one RBI each
for the Cougars. CSU stranded 10 baserunners in the game.
The PBC championship game is scheduled for Sunday at noon against
Francis Marion University with a if-necessary game to follow at
4:00 p.m.
Quotes: North Georgia Head Coach Tom
Cantrell
- Opening statement: "I can't say enough about the way our kids
came out and played again tonight. Sitting here the only undefeated
team, and tonight was probably the best game of the tournament.
Their kid (Phillip) Robinson pitched great, we got a couple of runs
early. Other than some walks that led to some walks, Michael
(Patton) pitched through some jams. It was a great effort on our
part, it was a fun game to be a part of. It was a good college
baseball game, a good Division II game."
- On Sunday with the weather forecast and regional implications:
"Right now I am not very happy about what I know. I do not think it
is right, but what I think is right and the way it is are two
different things. I do not know how we are not one of the best six
teams to go to the regional right now. We've won every game here
and 22 of our last 25 since April 1. I have no control over the
weather. Hopefully we have done enough to put ourselves where we
need to be, it would be a travesty to North Georgia and these kids
if they do not get a chance to go on."
Freshman pitcher Michael Patton
- On your performance as a freshman on a big stage: "Just tried to
give my team a chance. They hit the fastball real well so I tried
to keep them off-balance. We are hitting the ball the best I have
seen, so I just wanted to give us a chance."
- On your defense behind you, especially up the middle with Osters
and Sharett: "They have been great all year. Anders (Oster) is
unbelievable out there and Logan is hitting the ball and playing
the field. It is a good mix and they are playing good right
now."
Senior first baseman Rob Flanigan
- On your two solo home runs: "The first at-bat I got fooled on a
pitch and he came back with one right down the middle and I just
hit it out. My second at bat I struck out and the first pitch in
that at-bat he threw me a fastball. I figured in my third at-bat he
would try to blow the same pitch by me and I hit it."
- On Josh Tate and Chad Sage breaking out of their slumps: "Chad
(Sage) told me he was struggling and I talked to him and told him
to relax a little, he calmed down. He is one of the most talented
players I have seen. They are going through slumps like all hitters
do, but they are great hitters so they will come out of it."