Box Score

DAHLONEGA, GA – 10th-ranked North Georgia failed to produce a clutch hit Saturday evening, stranding 11 runners, including three runners on third base as 22nd-ranked Lander University pulled out a 3-1 victory over the Saints in Peach Belt Conference action.

In the third inning, Lander manufactured a pair of runs to take a 2-0 lead. Josh Lovvern grounded out to shortstop to drive in a run, and AJ Nunziato followed with a clutch two-out single to right field, plating Devin Ridlehoover for the second run of the inning.

The Saints pulled to within a run as JD Burgess doubled to right field to lead off the inning and later scored on a wild pitch to make it 2-1.

Nunziato answered in the sixth with another two-out hit, this time a solo home run to right center to give the Bearcats a 3-1 advantage, a lead that would hold true to the final out.

James Wiley (1-1) suffered the loss in 6.0 innings of work, allowing three runs on as many hits while striking out seven. Caleb Copeland shut down the Bearcats over the last three innings, allowing just one hit while striking out seven.

Darren Tew (1-0) picked up the win over 6.0 innings, allowing seven hits and one run while striking out eight. David Glover came on in the ninth to pick up his fifth save of the season.

The Saints and Bearcats will play late into the night as the second game of the doubleheader is set to start at 9:20 p.m.