Patriots fall to North Georgia 6-3

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.

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.