April 16, 2010

Box Score | Tournament Website

FLORENCE, SC – The top-ranked North Georgia softball team unloaded on Armstrong Atlantic on Friday afternoon, launching three fifth-inning home runs on their way to an 8-0 victory in five innings over the Pirates in the second round of the 2010 PBC tournament at Freedom Florence Park.

North Georgia continues their defense of the Peach Belt Conference tournament title, improving to 43-0 on the year and 10-2 all-time in the PBC tournament, while Armstrong Atlantic will make their way to the loser’s bracket at 32-17 on the season.

North Georgia jumped on top in the first frame for the second straight game as Laura Voyles coaxed a walk to start the inning and after a sacrifice bunt from Lauren Dykes, Courtney McGuire came to the plate and stroked a single up the middle to bring home the first run of the game and give the Saints a 1-0 lead.

The Saints put together a two-out rally in the fourth inning as Dykes laced a triple to right center and McGuire and Leslee Smith combined for back-to-back doubles to stretch the North Georgia lead to 3-0.

The fifth inning saw the Saints unload with a trio of home runs to end the game at 8-0 in run-rule fashion. Katherine Martin led off the inning with a solo shot to left center, and Laura Voyles followed with a three-run blast of her own, this one to right center to make it a 7-0 game.

McGuire came to the dish with two outs and ended the game in walk-off fashion, blasting the longest of the three bombs with a towering fly to center field to send the Saints into round three of the tournament with an 8-0 victory.

Sarah Phillips (36-0) was the winner, tossing her fifth straight shutout, allowing just four hits, while striking out four and walking a pair. Emily Headrick suffered the loss, lasting just 1.1 innings and allowing a run on one hit, but was unable to find the strike zone with five walks.

North Georgia makes their way into the semi-final round of the tournament and will face the winner of Francis Marion and USC Aiken on Saturday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. in game 11 of the championship.