Box Score DAHLONEGA, GA - Andre Airich had three and drove in a
pair of runs to lead North Georgia College & State University
to a 6-3 win over Francis Marion University, Monday
afternoon in the final game of a three-game Peach Belt Conference
series.
The Saints improve to 19-16 overall and 10-8 in the PBC, while
Francis Marion falls to 21-11-1 and 9-7. FMU will play
host to Belmont Abbey College on Thursday at 6 p.m.
Airich went an astounding 9-12 in the three-game series while
adding four runs batted in. Brad Hall went a perfect 3-3 at
the plate on Monday with three runs batted in, including the
go-ahead two-out two-run single through the left side to give North
Georgia.
The Saints jumped out on top in the third inning as Airich
produced a two-out single to right field. North Georgia added
an unearned run an inning later to go up 2-0. Davy
Wallach attempted to steal second and was caught in a run down,
allowing Hall to race to the plate.
The two-out clutch hitting continued in the fifth inning, this
time a Francis Marion two-run double off the bat of Barrett
Kleinknecht tied the game at 2-2 as Matt O'Rourke and Alex Lee
raced to the plate.
In the sixth, the Saints would regain the lead as Hall guided
his second single of the day through the left side, another two-out
hit, to give North Georgia a 4-2 advantage.
The Patriots pulled to within a run in the eighth inning, using
a single through the right side by Lee to bring Jacob Wallace
trotting home from third and make it 4-3.
North Georgia would score the final two runs of the game
however; plating a pair of runs in the bottom half of the eighth
inning for a 6-3 victory. Erisman led off the inning with a triple
right center, and Airich followed with his third hit of the day,
driving home Erisman for the two-run lead. Hall completed his
three-hit day in the eighth, doubling home Airich for the final run
of the game.
Michael Patton (4-2) picked up his second straight victory,
lasting 6.2 innings and allowing two runs on five hits while
striking out four. Justin Yackee came on in the ninth to record his
sixth save of the year, allowing a hit and two walks to load the
bases, but struck out a pair and induced a fly out to end the
game.
Junior righty Erik Sommerville (1-2) suffered the loss in the
finale, tossing 5.2 innings and allowing seven hits and three
earned runs while striking out three.