Box Score | Tournament Website

FLORENCE, SC – The North Georgia softball team opened play at the 2010 Peach Belt Conference softball tournament on Friday morning with a shutout of Lander University, blanking the Bearcats 4-0 at Freedom Florence Park.

North Georgia improves to 42-0 overall on the year, while moving to 9-2 all-time in the Peach Belt Conference tournament. Lander drops their third straight game to the Saints, falling to 22-23 on the season.

The Saints scored all the runs they would need in the first inning as Laura Voyles legged out an infield single to start the rally and Courtney McGuire followed later in the inning and laced a double to left center to send Voyles racing to third and put a pair of runners in scoring position with one out.

North Georgia then broke the game open as a wild pitch sent Voyles racing home for the first run of the game, and catcher Rachelle Adkins threw the ball away trying to gun down Voyles, allowing McGuire to trot home and give the Saints a 2-0 first-inning lead.

Pilar Harden then came to the plate in the sixth inning with two runners on and drilled a single up the middle to send Katherine Martin and Victoria St. Clair racing home and give the Saints a 4-0 victory.

Sarah Phillips (35-0) remains unbeaten on the year, tossing a complete-game shutout, allowing just one hit while striking out eight. She recorded her 30th complete game of the year, and 18th shutout of the season.

Hayley Leissner (16-5) was the tough-luck loser, allowing four runs on seven hits while fanning 10 and walking a pair.

North Georgia returns to action this afternoon at 4:00 p.m. against Armstrong Atlantic State University. The Saints are looking to repeat as PBC tournament champions in just their third season eligible for play in the championship.