The North Georgia College Saints made a strong statement as to who the top team in the Southern States Athletic Conference Tournament was, humiliating Lee University, 15-5. 

It was a stormy Friday at Olympic Field, with all three games being delayed.  The 12 and 3:30 contests were delayed by two hours, while the nightcap was truly that, starting at 10 p.m.  The first two games saw Auburn-Montgomery eliminate Berry College, 9-3.  Brewton-Parker exited the tournament thanks to 8-3 drubbing by Georgia Southwestern. 

North Georgia quickly jumped to a 4-1 lead after three innings, and would never let the Flames get closer.  Those first four runs were unearned, and the Saints capitalized on a record-tying seven errors by Lee in the game. 

NGCSU would up the difference to 10-2 going into the bottom of the eighth before Lee added three to make the game respectable.  However, the Saints closed out with five runs in the top of ninth, finishing off their 16-hit attack.  They have scored 40 runs on 46 hits in three tournament games. 

There were a couple bright spots for Coach David Altopp’s club, as Matt Brooks was 3-for-4 with a double, a stolen base, and two runs scored.  Clark Jackson was 2-for-5, narrowly missing two other hits.  Patrick Spangler had a double and scored a pair of runs.  Matt Martin had an RBI-triple. 

David Dowdy started the game and was done in by the poor defense, allowing six runs in 3 1/3 frames.  However, only two were earned, and he struck out six.  Jeff Green, Craig Trent, Steve Turpin, and Travis Smith all saw action out of the bullpen. 

Brian Lauderdale was tops for the Saints, going 4-for-6 with a double, his 30^th stolen base, an RBI, and four runs scored.  Justin Rickett continued his hot tournament hitting, going 2-for-4 with four RBI, a triple, and two runs scored.  Ryan Gurley had a pair of hits and RBI. 

Former Flame Richie Daigle, a .385 hitter in two seasons at Lee, enjoyed his first time playing against Lee at Olympic Field.  He collected three hits in five at bats, including a double, scoring twice, and plating three runners. 

Jason Willard was the beneficiary of the run support, going 7 2/3 innings, allowing four runs, striking out nine and not walking a batter to improve to 12-2.  Ryan Garmon finished off the game. 

North Georgia improves their impressive record to 49-12.  They are ranked No. 14 in the NAIA.  Meanwhile, No. 6-ranked Lee ends their second longest winning streak of all-time at 13, dropping to 45-10. 

In the earlier games, AUM pounded out 16 hits in the 9-3 win over the Vikings.  Britt Clayton was a perfect 5-for-5 with a home run and a pair of RBI.  Jeremy Lively had three hits, while Josh Cameron had two hits and drove home three.  Ryan Wilson also had a pair of safeties for the victors.  Tyler Driskill and Palmer Karr had three hits for Berry.  Nick Singleton went eight innings for AUM in notching his eighth win.  Jeremy Cameron took the loss for the Vikings. 

In the middle of the three games, Georgia Southwestern jumped to a 5-2 lead over Brewton-Parker and never looked back, finishing out with three more in the 8-3 win.  John Stonecypher had three hits for GSW, while Jeremiah Barrow had a home run for BPC.  Ashley Hooks and Joe Donahue had a pair of hits for the Barons.  Michael Kennedy went all nine innings for the win, scattering nine hits and striking out six.  Odie Tomberlin took the loss, giving up three earned runs in 4 2/3, whiffing four. 

The schedule for tomorrow will have Lee taking on Georgia Southwestern at 12:00, while North Georgia and AUM will tangle at 3:30.  The final game of the day will be determined after those games.