March 17, 2010

Photos by Luzny Photography

Box Score

DAHLONEGA, GA – The North Georgia baseball team was unable to jumpstart their offense on Wednesday afternoon, coming up with just seven hits and three runs as Carson-Newman College earned a series split with a 6-3 comeback win at Bob Stein Stadium in non-conference action.

North Georgia falls to 16-8 on the season, while Carson-Newman earns the series split and improves to 14-8 on the year.

The Saints offense was nearly invisible after a 19-hit performance in the opener, but Daniel Petitti was front and center at the plate, giving the North Georgia the lead with solo shot to left field in the second inning to score the first run of the game. The Roswell, Ga., native was at it again in the ninth inning, his second blast of the day to lead off the ninth, but it was not to be for the Saints in a three-run defeat.

Carson-Newman found themselves down a run in the fourth inning when Mills Rogers doubled home a run to knot the score at 1-1, one of three straight doubles in the frame for the Eagles, but Jeff Lockwood was gunned down trying to steal third base, limiting C-N to just a run on three hits in the inning.

The Eagles broke the deadlock in the seventh inning with three runs on four hits to grab a 4-1 advantage. Aaron Vargas started the onslaught with an RBI double, followed by a two-run blast to right field off the bat of Lockwood, capping the three-run frame and putting the Carson-Newman in front for good.

North Georgia had their chances in the bottom of the seventh, putting together a two-out rally that saw the Saints load the bases for Andre Airich who singled home Alan Frediksson to make it a two-run game, but Chad Sage followed and struck out swinging to leave the bases jammed, three of the nine runners the Saints left on base.

Rogers tacked on another run for the Eagles in the ninth with a solo shot down the left field line, a homer that was matched by Petitti in the bottom half, but the Eagles held on for three 6-3 victory.

Wes McIntyre (2-1) was the winning pitcher in relief, tossing 3.2 innings and allowing a run on one hit while striking out five and walking three. Lockwood came in from left field to pitch the ninth and pick up his second save of the season.

Five North Georgia pitchers took the mound as Michael Patton went 5.2 innings, allowing one run on nine hits in a no decision. Nick White (2-1) was tagged with the loss, pitching 0.2 innings and giving up the go ahead run without allowing a hit.

North Georgia returns to action over the weekend with an altered schedule against the University of Montevallo. The Falcons and Saints will now tangle in a single game on Friday at 4:00 p.m., followed by a doubleheader on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. at Bob Stein Stadium. Forecasted rain on Sunday forced the change for the weekend clash between the PBC west division rivals.