Eagle Miscues Lead to 9-7 Loss to North Georgia
March 3, 2009
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. -- The Carson-Newman baseball team dropped a 9-7 decision to No. 6 North Georgia Tuesday afternoon at the Silver Diamond Baseball Complex.
The Eagles pitching staff allowed just five hits on the day but walked seven batters and hit one. C-N also committed four errors, giving the Saints 12 free bases for the game.
"There were 12 errors or walks that we had today," Eagles coach Tom Griffin said. "Twelve free bases. That's been kind of how we have been playing all year. We just have not been consistent in two facets of the game. We've either pitched well and not fielded or hit well or vice versa."
"We've just not played very well as a team. Part of that you've got to blame on coaching. We are obviously not prepared in some aspects of things. Part of it is we have some kids that don't have a lot of experience. All we can do is keep going to practice."
With the loss, C-N falls to 11-8 overall. North Georgia improves to 12-5.
Evan Patterson (Knoxville, Tenn.) led the Eagles at the plate with two hits, while Tyler Kitts (Knoxville, Tenn.) drove in four runs with a first-inning grand slam.
Andre Airich went 3-for-4 with two RBIs to lead North Georgia.
Saints reliever Jacob Rickett (2-1) pitched 1/3 of an inning and did not allow a hit to earn the win. Justin Yackee (5) pitched the ninth inning, did not give up a hit and struck out one to pick up the save.
Eagles reliever Corbin Ariail (Elgin, S.C.) (2-1) was tagged with the loss after surrendering two runs (zero earned) and striking out two in 2 2/3 innings of work.
The Eagles erupted for five runs in the home half of the first inning. Derek Long (Jefferson City, Tenn.) drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to right field. After an Antonio Nickel (Naples, Fla.) single loaded the bases, Kitts stepped to the plate and blasted a grand slam over the left field fence to give C-N a 5-0 lead.
However, North Georgia began taking advantage of C-N's mistakes as it scored seven runs over the next six innings, including three runs each in the third and fifth innings to build a 7-5 lead.
The Eagles battled back to tie the game at 7-7 in the home half of the seventh. Patterson scored on a Mills Rogers (Simpsonville, S.C.) ground out, and Aaron Vargas (Oak Ridge, Tenn.) drew a walk and later scored on a wild pitch.
But the Saints took advantage of another C-N miscue in the top of the ninth to take the lead for good, as both Airich and Craig Brisson scored on a dropped fly ball with two outs to give North Georgia a 9-7 lead.
C-N wraps up its two-game series with North Georgia on Wednesday afternoon. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
