DAHLONEGA, Ga. – North Georgia swept Augusta State in a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader Saturday at Bob Stein Stadium.
The Jaguars (13-35, 4-25) dropped the first game, 9-5, despite outhitting the Saints 15-13. In game two, NGCSU ace Blake Hobby outdueled Jags' righthander Dylan Wall for a 2-1 victory.
In the opener, the Saints (22-22, 12-14 PBC) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning. The Jags got a run back in the third on a Curtis Parker single with two outs, a wild pitch and an RBI-single from Justin Appel.
The Saints added five runs in the fifth and one in the sixth to pull away. ASU didn't go away quietly, scratching for four runs in the eighth. Parker doubled and Appel singled before a Saints' pitching change. Ross Miles drew a walk before Brac Barton plated Parker with a sacrifice fly to right. After Caleb Saggus was plunked, Kevin Dodson singled to left to score Appel. Seth Foster then followed with a single to left to drive in Saggus and Miles.
ASU senior righthander Chase Johnston (3-3) suffered the loss. He was charged with 10 hits and seven runs – all earned -- in 4.1 innings with one walk. Kyle Golden came on in relief in the fifth and logged the final 3.2 innings, allowing three hits and one earned run.
Parker and Appel each went 3-for-5 and combined for three runs scored. Dodson, Foster and Miles booked two hits each.
In game two, Hobby tossed 7.0 shutout innings, yielding just three hits to improve to 8-2 on the season.
Wall (0-7) deserved to fare better in one of his best outings as a Jaguar. In 6.0 innings, he gave up seven hits and no earned runs with a strikeout and four walks.
The Saints took a 2-0 lead into the ninth when ASU mounted a threat. Foster was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and Parker reached on a fielder's choice, with Foster taking third on an error. Appel's grounder to short was booted, allowing Foster to race home. North Georgia's Reese Patten then settled down, striking out the next two batters and closed out the game with a groundout to earn his third save.
Saggus, Foster and Appel accounted for ASU's three hits -- all singles -- in game two.
The Jags wrap up their 2012 league schedule with a single game Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. Live stats will be available at http://livestats.prestosports.com/northgeorgia/.
