Saints Swipe Series Opener 3-1 from Hurricanes
DAHLONEGA, GA
– The North Georgia pitching staff scattered five hits and
allowed just one run as the Saints took the first game of a
three-game series 3-1 from the Hurricanes on Saturday afternoon at
Bob Stein Stadium in Peach Belt Conference action.
The Saints improve to 14-6 overall on the season and 5-2 in the
Peach Belt Conference’s west division, while the Hurricanes
drop their first league of the year, falling to 9-5 overall and 3-1
in the conference.
Just nine combined hits led to a low scoring affair as the Saints
pushed across the first runs of the game in the sixth inning. Troy
Snitker sent a fly to center field with one out, plating Jordan
Erisman for the RBI, while Andre Airich advanced to third and raced
home later in the play to give the Saints a 2-0 lead.
The Hurricanes pulled to within a run in the seventh, using a
leadoff walk by Jared Allen who stole second and came around to
score on a Bud Long single down the left field line to make it a
2-1 North Georgia lead.
The Saints answered in their half of the seventh as Kenny
Bellavance walked to lead off the inning and later came racing home
on an Anders Oster single to left field, giving North Georgia
another two-run lead, this time at 3-1.
Chris Rearick (5-0) picked up the win for the Saints, lasting 6.1
innings and allowing the only Hurricane run while scattering five
hits and striking out 10. Just Yackee and Jacob Rickett were
perfect in relief, tossing the final 2.2 innings and not allowing a
hit while striking out three.
Georgia Southwestern’s Ryan Lackey (1-2) suffered the loss
in the series opener, lasting 6.0 innings and allowing just three
hits, but the senior was charged with two earned runs in the
defeat.
The Saints and Hurricanes will play the second game of a
doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Bob Stein Stadium with first
pitch set for 4:00 p.m.
Game Notes:
- North Georgia has now won all seven of their series openers this season.
- The Saints have won six of their last seven games dating back to a 12-10 series finale win over UNC Pembroke.
- Craig Brisson’s sixth-inning single extended his current hitting streak to eight games.
- Chris Rearick has tossed 22.2 innings over his last three starts with 27 strikeouts and a perfect 3-0 mark.