DAHLONEGA, GA - Senior right-hander Sarah Phillips tossed a no-hitter and Kayla Martin contributed a game-winning home run to power third-ranked North Georgia College and State University to a sweep of Monday afternoon's (April 11) Peach Belt Conference softball doubleheader with Francis Marion University.  Martin's blast produced a 2-1 win in game one, while Phillips led the Saints to a 6-1 victory in the second contest.

The two losses combined with USC Aiken's two wins over Columbus State University on Monday ends Francis Marion's 2011 campaign.  The Patriots were looking to move up in the conference standings and secure a spot in this weekend's PBC Tournament.

FMU ends the year with a 24-21-1 overall mark and a 7-13 conference record.  North Georgia improves to 43-9 and 17-3 and will be the top seed in the tournament. In the fourth frame, North Georgia tied the contest when Pilar Harden and Katherine Martin hit back-to-back doubles.  An inning later, Kayla Martin led off with her game-winning home run to left-center field.

FMU junior right-hander Kayla Ellingsen (11-8) was the hard-luck loser as she allowed only two runs on seven hits, while striking out four.  North Georgia's Jessica Coan (22-4) earned the win as she scattered three hits while fanning 11 Patriot batters.

In the second contest, the Patriots again took a 1-0 advantage in the top of the first.  Junior center fielder Destinea Schneider led the game off with a walk, moved to second on a fielder's choice, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on sophomore third baseman Tristan Faile's sacrifice fly.  Schneider ended the season as FMU's top hitter with a .352 average.

However, in the bottom of the frame, the first three North Georgia batters reached on singles, and combined with a walk and two FMU errors, the Saints plated five runs.

Patriot senior righty Cea Knox (11-11) was the losing pitcher. Sophomore southpaw Murphy McConnell relieved Knox and allowed only one more run (on six hits) in six innings pitched. 

Phillips (17-4) allowed only two more FMU baserunners after the opening inning and those were the result of North Georgia fielding errors. 

FMU will lose the services of three seniors: Phillips (.252), shortstop Jessica Hogan (.258), and Knox.

#3 North Georgia 6, Francis Marion 1 (Apr 11, 2011 at Dahlonega, GA) (Game 2)
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Francis Marion...... 100 000 0 -  1  0  2      (24-21-1, 7-13 PBC)
North Georgia....... 500 100 X -  6  9  2      (43-9, 17-3 PBC)
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Pitchers: Francis Marion - Cea Knox; Murphy McConnell(1) and Olivia Ferguson. North Georgia -
Phillips and Willemse.
Win-Phillips(17-4)  Loss-Cea Knox(11-11)  T-1:45  A-0
Knox faced 6 batters in the 1st.