Chris Whitaker
DAHLONEGA — Jody Sellars’ streak of 28 innings without an earned run was snapped in the first inning of Game 2, and North Georgia took a pair of games from Georgia Southwestern on Saturday, winning 3-1 and 9-6.
In Game 1, North Georgia pitcher Chris Rearick pitched 6.1 innings, allowing one run on five hits while striking out 10 as the Saints won.
The Saints (15-6, 6-2 PBC), broke a scoreless tie in the sixth when Troy Snitker his a sacrifice fly; another run scored on the play for a 2-0 lead.
GSW (9-6, 3-2) answered in the seventh on a Bud Long RBI-single down the left-field line.
North Georgia added insurance in the bottom half with a Anders Oster RBI-single.
Trent Dooley was 3-for-5 for GSW, but the Hurricanes struck out 13 times and left 12 on base; they were 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position.
Ryan Lackey took the loss, going six innings and allowing two runs on three hits with five strikeouts and four walks.
Jacob Rickett got the save, striking out three of the five batters he faced.
GSW entered the series receiving one vote — its first since joining the Peach Belt — in the 2010 Collegiate Baseball Magazine NCAA Division II Coaches’ Poll.
In Game 2, GSW had a 2-1 lead until the third when North Georgia scored four to take the lead for good.
Sellars pitched 5.1 innings, allowing seven runs on eight hits with one strikeout and four walks. Stephen Daneman got the final two outs of the sixth, and Chris Caroll pitched two innings, allowing one run and one hit.
Long, Byron Haynes, Paschel Poston and Jared Allen all had two hits; Haynes had two RBI and Long had a double.
Andre Airich led the Saints with four RBI.
The Hurricanes struck out 12 times this game and left 15 on; they failed to take advantage of five Saint errors.
Game 3 is set for 1 p.m. today.
Softball
Augusta State (19-6, 5-0 PBC) built a 6-0 lead after one inning and led 11-0 after three for the Game 1 win.
Georgia Southwestern was held to two hits in the game. Gabby Buck had a double for GSW (11-19, 1-6).
Jessica Thortnon was 3-for-4 with a home run and four RBI, and Kacee Camp had a three-run homer in the first. Four Lady Jaguars hit home runs.
