DAHLONEGA, GA - The Lenoir-Rhyne Softball dropped their first game of the Regional Final on Saturday as North Georgia scored seven runs in the first inning to take control and force an winner take all game.
Cassidy Wall went deep for her 35th time of her career and
Lani Warren drove in three runs.
Weather forced the if-necessary game to be halted with the score 2-2 in the top of the 3rd inning. North Georgia will have runners on second and third with two outs when the game resumes at 10:00 am Sunday morning.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Game One Final: (3) Lenoir-Rhyne 6, (2) North Georgia 10
Records: Lenoir-Rhyne (38-18), North Georgia (44-13)
Location: Dahlonega, Ga. | The Hill
STORY OF GAME:
- The NIghthawks jumped out to a 9-0 lead as North Georgia put up a seven spot in the first inning before adding a single run in the second and third inning.
- Bears are used to comebacks in the post season and LR battled back with six unanswered runs but could not get any closer then 9-6 in this one.
- North Georgia added a run in the seventh to force a winner take all game.
- Every Bear starter had at least one hit as Lani Warren, Julia Mardigian and Faith Carrigan each had a pair.
- Warren led the Bears with 3 RBI's as Mardigian drove in a pair of runs.
- Wall clubbed her 9th home run of the season.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
- Mardigian is now tied with Erin Boone with 282 career hits.
- Wall now has 35 career home runs, which is tied for fifth most all-time.
- This was the Bears first defeat this post season and it halted a 12-game winning streak.
- Winner of the if-necessary game will head to Francis Marion for the Super Regional next Thursday and Friday as Francis Marion swept their regional.
UP NEXT: The game will resume Sunday morning at 10 a.m. The score is tied at 2-2 in the third inning with the winner advancing to the Super Regionals.
