May 5, 2010

Complete Poll

DAHLONEGA, GA – The North Georgia baseball team has now been ranked for 10 straight weeks as the Saints find themselves as the nation’s No. 19 for the second consecutive week in the latest Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Division II Top 30 poll released on Monday afternoon.

The Saints (33-16) won two of three over the weekend at Flagler College in the battle of the Saints, taking the first two games, before Flagler took the finale in extra innings.

In game one, North Georgia had to rally from down a run in the ninth, but Jordan Erisman’s triple, followed by a double from Andre Airich knotted the score, and Kenny Bellavance came up with the game-winner later in the inning for a 2-1 victory.

Game two featured a Flagler comeback, as North Georgia jumped out to a 10-0 lead before the home Saints rallied for nine straight runs, including a pair in the ninth, but Just Yackee came in to slam the door in game two for a 10-9 victory.

A pair of stellar pitching performances was the story on Sunday afternoon as Flagler’s Johnny Gaines (8-5) and North Georgia’s Matt Adams both tossed complete games, but it was Gaines who came out on top with the 10-inning victory as Dagmar Pena launched a walk-off shot in the extra inning.

The Peach Belt Conference stays prominent in the poll with three teams in the top 10, and five in the top 25. Francis Marion is No. 5, followed by GCSU at No. 8, and Columbus State rounds out the top 10. Following North Georgia at No. 19 is UNC Pembroke who comes in at No. 22 in the country.

UC San Diego moves up one spot to claim the nation’s top spot at 45-6 on the year, while Tampa is No. 2, Central Missouri is No. 3, and Southern Arkansas is No. 4.

North Georgia returns to action on Wednesday evening, playing host to Truett-McConnell College in what will be the Saints final home game of the 2010 season. The event will serve as senior day for the 10 North Georgia seniors playing in their final games at Bob Stein Stadium.