North Georgia Falls to Lock Haven; Set for Rematch at NCAA Championships

SALEM, VA – In a battle of the top two ranked teams in the country, #1 North Georgia managed just one hit, while #2 Lock Haven used a trio of first-inning home runs to run past the Saints 8-0 in five innings Sunday afternoon at the NCAA Division II Softball Championship.

The Saints say goodbye to their 27-game winning streak, falling for the first time in 68 days and moving to 50-4 on the season. With the victory, Lock Haven improves to 49-6 on the season.

North Georgia will now regroup and prepare to take on Lock Haven once again this afternoon at 4:00 p.m. in what will be an elimination game for the loser and a ticket to the NCAA National Championship game for the winning team.

Lock Haven wasted little time in breaking out their bats early. The Lady Eagles blasted three home runs in their half of the first inning to take a 4-0 lead. Kristin Erb walked with one out and then Ilia Lopez hit the first home run of the inning to right field. Amanda Roosa and Erica Eisenbise followed with bombs to deep left field as the Lady Eagles went back to back to back.

Lock Haven then used four straight walks to start the fourth inning before recording a pair of hits and closing out the game with an 8-0 victory in five innings.

Sarah Phillips (39-2) drops her first game in more then three months, lasting 3.0 innings and allowing eight runs on four hits while striking out one.

Kristen Erb (48-5) picks up the victory, lasting all 5.0 innings, allowing one hit while striking out six.

Erb and Phillips will duel once again this afternoon as nation’s top winners in the circle will go to work once again as the two NFCA First-Team All-Americans have combined for 87 victories on the season.