The Saints improve to 14-6 overall on the year after taking both ends of the doubleheader, moving to 3-5 in Peach Belt Conference action. The Hurricanes drop their first two league games of the season, falling to 12-9 overall and 3-2 in PBC play.
Game one was all about great pitching and timely hitting as North Georgia starter Blake Hobby (2-1) continued to shine on the mound, tossing 8.0 scoreless innings for his second win of the year. Jacob Rickett also got the job down out of the bullpen, picking up his fifth save of the season as he tallied a strikeout and allowed a hit in a scoreless ninth frame.
The timely hitting started in the sixth inning when Jordan Erisman singled to lead off the inning, and after Derek Hooper put down a sacrifice bunt, Kenny Bellavance connected with a two-out single to left field, sending Erisman home for what would be the winning run.
The Saints then put together three hits in the ninth inning, capped by a single from Erisman to plate Brad Hall for an insurance run and give North Georgia a 2-0 victory in the series opener.
The Saints carried their momentum into the second game of the day when Bellavance coaxed a two-out bases-loaded walk in the first inning to send Hooper trotting home and give North Georgia a 1-0 lead.
The Hurricanes answered in the second inning with their first runs of the game and the series when Jarrod Taylor lined a two-out double to center field, scoring a pair of runs and giving Georgia Southwestern a 2-1 lead.
North Georgia wasted little time retaking the lead as Dustin Carpenter delivered a two-run double down the left field line in the third inning, plating Troy Snitker and Cameron Crawford to give the Saints the advantage right back at 3-2.
The offense would add single runs in the seventh and ninth innings, including a double to left center by Snitker to score the final run of the game in a 5-2 North Georgia victory.
Wes Coberly (2-0) picked up the win for the Saints, lasting 7.0 innings and allowing two runs on just four hits. The freshman walked a trio of batters, but added three strikeouts on his way to the victory. Jesse Coxwell pitched the eighth inning and into the ninth where Daniel Warzon came on to get the final out and record his first save of the season.
The Saints will go for the series sweep on Sunday afternoon, with first pitch set for 1:00 p.m. at Hurricane Field in Americus, Georgia.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2011/3/236995