Box Score

DAHLONEGA, GA – North Georgia found themselves down by five runs early, but the 7th-ranked Saints rallied for four runs in their final three trips to the plate to defeat Catawba College 9-8 Tuesday afternoon at Bob Stein Stadium.

The Saints improve to 15-7 overall, while Catawba falls to 9-6 on the season as the two teams will face off one more time tomorrow afternoon.

Catawba jumped out on top with two runs in each of the first three innings as they used just two hits, but took advantage of four walks to put up six runs. Kevin McMillan put the Indians in front in the opening frame with a two-run blast to center field, the only Catawba hit in the first two innings.

The Saints used a two out rally in the bottom of the opening inning as Jordan Erisman walked, and later came around to score on an Andre Airich double for North Georgia’s first run of the game.

The fourth inning saw the Saints put up four runs on six hits to pull to within a run at 6-5. Brad Hall doubled home the first run of the inning, and after a walk, Nicholas Fryman doubled down the left field line to bring two more runs to the plate. Craig Brisson singled to bring Davy Wallach home for the final run of the inning.

After North Georgia got to within a run, Catawba answered with single runs in the fifth and sixth to take an 8-5 lead, but the Saints got one back in the bottom half of the sixth as Erisman grounded out to bring Brisson home and make it 8-6.

In the seventh, Daniel Petitti reached on an error to start the inning, and after a strikeout, Hall came to the plate and launched an opposite field home run to right field, scoring Petitti and tying the game 8-8.

In the eighth, The Saints took their first lead of the day with a two-out single from Chad Sage to plate Airich who raced home for the winning run.

Blake Hobby (2-1) came on in relief to pitch the final two innings and pick up the victory. The freshman allowed just one hit and struck out one.

Brett Hatley (0-1) suffered the loss, allowing North Georgia’s eighth inning run for the defeat.

The Saints will take on Catawba again tomorrow afternoon with first pitch set for 4:00 p.m.