March 29, 2011
Lady Braves' Late Rally Falls Short In Loss To No. 5 Saints
DAHLONEGA, Ga. – A solo home run in the bottom of the fifth inning proved to be the deciding run for fifth-ranked North Georgia to capture a 1-0 victory over the UNCP softball team in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader at The Hill in Dahlonega, Ga.
The Lady Braves (17-17, 4-6 PBC) got six solid innings from freshman starter Natalie Klemann, but the solo homer served as one of the few mistakes the rookie made in holding the potent Saints' (32-8, 8-2 PBC) offense to just one run and five hits during the game.
The UNCP offense mounted a rally late in the top of the seventh inning after senior Loren Bartz doubled to right center and pinch runner Hillary Jones was moved over to third base on a sacrifice bunt by fellow senior Lynn Grantham, but the next two Lady Braves' batters struck out to end the game.
Bartz (2-for-3, double) and freshman Taylor Cloninger (2-for-3, double) each recorded a pair of hits for the Lady Braves while Morgan Patrick and Grantham each added one to account for all the UNCP hits.
The Lady Braves will return to action on Saturday when they host Augusta State at LRA Field in Pembroke.
