Magic Continues For #1 Saints in 11-inning Win
Box ScoreSALEM, VA – Top-ranked North Georgia
continued its magical run Friday afternoon, allowing two runs in
the 11th inning before coming back in the bottom half to score
three runs with a walk-off single by Laura Voyles, shocking fans at
the World Series with the 3-2 victory.
For the Saints, who have not lost a game in 66 days, improve to
50-3 on the season, tying a school record for victories in a season
and improving to 2-0 at the 2009 National Championships.
North Georgia will now advance to Sunday’s semi-final action
to take on a team to be determined at 12:00 PM.
Game five of the NCAA National Championships was scoreless for the
first ten innings as Angelo State's Chelsea Nelson and North
Georgia's Sarah Phillips continued to put zeros on the
scoreboard.
North Georgia had a golden opportunity in the last of the seventh,
loading the bases with no outs a chance for their second straight
walk-off victory, but a fly out to centerfield, a groundout to the
pitcher, and a line drive to shortstop ended the threat.
Angelo State found their offense in the eleventh inning, after a
groundout to open the inning, Alix Dean singled with one out. Megan
Pumphrey was hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second.
April Haywood singled in the first run of the game with a base hit
that went through the left side of the infield before Nicole Smith
followed with a single to put the Rambelles up 2-0 entering the
bottom of the seventh.
North Georgia, who won their first game of the championship in
walk-off fashion, continued their flair for the dramatic finishes
with another last inning win. Pilar Harden opened the inning
reaching on an error. Hilary Cox then singled to put runners at
first and second with no one out to bring Stephanie Farmakis to the
dish who walked to load the bases. Kayla Martin reached on a
fielders choice which forced out Harden at the plate, but
Farrington then stepped to the dish lined a two-run single to right
center, sending the North Georgia fans into eruption. Trisha Snider
was thrown out at third on the play for the second out of the game
to bring Laura Voyles to the plate, who for the second straight day
provided the fireworks, lining a ball off the third baseman’s
glove, bringing a racing Kaelin Farrington home from second for the
game-winning run, sending North Georgia into celebration mode once
again.
Sarah Phillips (39-1), battled all day long, going all 11.0
innings, allowing 11 hits, two earned runs, and a pair of walks
while striking out 12 Angelo State batters. Phillips extends her
winning streak to 36 consecutive games.
Chelsea Nelson (31-5) was the hard luck loser, giving up two
earned runs, on just four hits and striking out four while walking
six.
