Saints roll to SSAC baseball title

CLEVELAND, TENNESSEE - The Southern States Athletic Conference Baseball Tournament concluded on a stormy Saturday with North Georgia being crowned tournament champions.

The Saints again crushed No. 6 Lee University, this time by a 14-0 count. In earlier games, North Georgia defeated Auburn University Montgomery, 10-8, while Lee University knocked off Georgia Southwestern State University, 7-4.

The nightcap was once again marred by bad weather, as the game started 45 minutes late and included a thirty minute rain delay. Most of the game was played in mist and rain.

NGCSU got things going in an error-plagued seven-run first inning. They recorded only three hits in the inning, but a dropped fly ball in left field and two bobbled grounders did the damage. The Dahlonega club added a pair of runs in the third and sixth innings, before a three-run blast by Ryan Gurley finished Lee off. He has three home runs this season, two against Lee.

The Saints recorded only nine hits after having averaged 15.5 per game, but made them count, taking advantage of eight walks and four errors by the Flames. Gurley was 2-for-3 with four RBI, two walks, and three runs scored. Justin Rickett capped off a remarkable tournament with two doubles, four RBI, and two runs scored. He had seven extra base hits in five games. David Chastain drove home three runners.

Justin Stowe was dominant, allowing only five baserunners in eight shutout innings. He struck out 12 before yielding to Skyler Webb for the ninth. Stowe upped his record to 9-3.

Russ Williams received the same poor support as David Dowdy one night earlier, going five innings and allowing nine runs. However, only four were earned and he whiffed seven. Travis Smith and Chris Shepherd completed the game. Jeremy Hutslar had two hits for Lee.

Lee falls to 46-11, while No. 14 NGCSU goes to 51-12. Both advance to the NAIA Region XIII Tournament, beginning on May 11, hosted by LSU-Shreveport. Lee will host King College in a Wednesday doubleheader at Olympic Field in a tune-up for regionals. North Georgia will face Emory University on Wednesday for a night game at 8:00 p.m. at the NGCSU Baseball Complex.