May 7, 2008

North Georgia Slips By Lenoir-Rhyne, 2-0, In The Opening Round Of The 2008 NCAA Division II South Atlantic Regional Tournament

Senior Meredith O’Connor breaks the South Atlantic Conference record for strikeouts in a season

Pembroke, N.C. – The No. 6 North Georgia College & State University Softball Team (36-13) scored the only two runs of the game in the top of the sixth inning en route to defeating third-seeded Lenoir-Rhyne College (42-13) in the first round of the 2008 NCAA Division II South Atlantic Regional Tournament at Lumberton Radiological Associates Field on the campus of UNC Pembroke.

With the game knotted at zero in the top of the sixth, Stephanie Farmakis (Sharpsburg, Ga.) hit a two run single to centerfield scoring Courtney McGuire (Lawrenceville, Ga.) and Heidi Cranford (Dawsonville, Ga.).

The Bears were unable to respond in their final six outs of the game but forced the Saints to leave the bases loaded in the top of the seventh. L-R left four runners on base over the final four innings of the game.

Bear senior Meredith O’Connor (Charlotte, N.C./Appalachian State Univ.) (30-10) suffered the loss on the mound despite striking out five, breaking the South Atlantic Conference record for strikeouts in a season with 320. O’Connor broke the record that she set during the 2007 campaign, when she sat down 319 batters.

Lenoir-Rhyne was led offensively by senior centerfielder Taylor Queen (Conover, N.C./St. Stephens HS), who went two-for-two with a walk.

North Georgia’s Sarah Phillips (Powell, Ohio) (18-7) was credited with the complete-game shutout win as she scattered four hits over seven innings of work, striking out six.

Lenoir-Rhyne moves to the loser’s bracket where it will take on No. 2 seed UNC Pembroke at 1:30 p.m. tomorrow afternoon.

Box Score