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#1 SAINTS BLANK L-R 15-0, HEAD BACK TO DIVISION II COLLEGE WORLD SERIES
DAHLONEGA, GA
– With one game standing between No. 1 North Georgia and the
World Series, the Saints erupted in the fifth inning for 10 runs on
their way to a 15-0 victory over Lenoir-Rhyne, capturing the
Southeast Super Regional for the second straight season at Haines
& Carolyn Hill Stadium.
The Saints advance to the Division II College World Series as the
nation’s No. 1 team for the second straight year, heading to
St. Joseph, Missouri, as one of eight teams remaining in the
country. The National Championships begin with four opening-round
games on Thursday at Heritage Park.
North Georgia’s improbable run to the World Series will go
down in history as one of the best stories in NCAA softball
history. Currently at 50-0, the Saints stake claim to their second
straight 50-win season, and third in the program’s 14-year
history, while assuring the club’s best-ever winning
percentage.
While North Georgia has been the nation’s No. 1 team for 80
straight days dating back to the first regular season poll of the
year on March 3, the Saints have been tested along with the way
with a 10-0 mark against teams ranked in the top 25, and a 9-0 mark
against clubs in nation’s top 10.
Since becoming eligible for postseason play in the NCAA Division
II ranks, North Georgia has advanced to the NCAA Tournament every
season, making three straight appearances on the national scene
with two trips to the World Series, and an all-time mark of 15-4 in
the NCAA Tournament.
Four seniors played in their final game at Haines & Carolyn
Hill Stadium on Saturday afternoon as Laura Voyles, Jessica Skeels,
Courtney McGuire, and Leslee Smith will go out as the second
winningest class in school history, currently sitting at 174
wins.
Lenoir-Rhyne’s run to one of the top teams in the country
comes to an end as the Bears fall to 53-9 on the year and drop
consecutive games for just the second time this season. The Bears
advanced to their fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament in 2010, and
currently sit at 8-12 all-time in NCAA Regional action.
The championship game was scoreless until the third inning when
Kasey Knight led off and coaxed a walk to reach base and Lauren
Dykes Followed and drilled a double down the left field line,
sending Knight racing all the way around to third.
Courtney McGuire followed and lined a double into the left field
corner, plating Knight and Dykes to break the scoreless tie and
give the Saints a 2-0 advantage.
North Georgia continued their rally in the fourth inning with
three more runs, capped by a two-run triple by Knight to send
Natasha Willemse and Katherine Martin home and stretch the lead to
5-0.
Knight and the Saints continued to add runs in the fifth inning as
the shortstop poked a single through the left side with two outs to
plate Pilar Harden and make it 7-0, but the Saints were just
getting started as the bats caught fire to plate eight more runs
and route the Bears 15-0.
Dykes got the party started with a three-run blast to straight
away center, and Leslee Smith followed two batters and planted a
two-run bomb halfway up the mountain in left field. Harden and
Willemse tacked on RBI hits later in the frame to cap a 10-run
fifth inning.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Bears were retired in order as
Brandu Haithcock struck out looking to start the frame, and after
Tameron Sealey popped out, Brittany Cherry grounded out to
Katherine Martin at first base to send North Georgia players into
eruption in the pitcher’s circle.
Sarah Phillips improved to 43-0 on the year with the victory, as
Lenoir-Rhyne was shutout for the first time this season. The junior
tossed 5.0 innings of shutout ball, allowing just three hits while
striking out seven of the 19 batters she faced.
The Saints will now make travel arrangements as they prepare to
fly to St. Joseph, Missouri, on Tuesday in preparation for their
opening game of the World Series on Thursday at 5:00 p.m. Central
Standard Time against East Super Regional winner Molloy College out
of
