Waleska, Ga. – The Sun Belt Patriots (19-6) scored seven runs on eleven hits while using a dominant performance from its pitching staff to complete the 7-0 shutout the Carrollton Clippers (11-14) in game one of the Western Division Championship.  With the victory, they are now one win away from advancing to the Sun Belt League Championship.

Michael Livingston (4-0) was dealing all night long on the mound for the Patriots, pitching seven scoreless innings, striking out five while giving up only four hits and no walks.

On offense, the Pats were led by Jake Franklin and Sean McDermott, who both went 2-for-4 with Franklin adding three RBIs and McDermott adding two.

Carrollton starter Avery Smith (1-2) struggled with his command early.  After Eriq White led off with a single in the first inning, he advanced to second on a wild pitch.   Smith then plunked Austin Pharr in the back before advancing both runners to third and second on another wild pitch.  The Pats then made him pay, scoring runs on a fielding error by Brian Dansereau and a Franklin RBI single to take a 2-0 lead.

Smith’s command issues continued in the third as he plunked Pharr again before advancing him to second on another wild pitch.  McDermott then made him pay, hitting an RBI single through the left side that scored Pharr, making it 3-0 Patriots.

The Pats continued their dominance in the fifth, loading the bases on another error by Dansereau.  The error loomed large as the Clippers completed a 5-2-3 double play that would have gotten them out of the inning.  But Franklin made them pay with an RBI triple into left center that scored two runs, making it 5-0 Patriots.

The Patriots added one run apiece in the seventh and eighth innings to complete the 7-0 victory.

Game Two of the Western Division Championship is on Thursday, July 27th at Central High School in Carrollton.  If the Patriots win, they advance to the Sun Belt League Championship.  If the Clippers win, they will force a Game Three that would be played Friday at Reinhardt University.  First pitch is at 7 p.m. 

The Sunbelt Summer Baseball League has been providing premier summer baseball for the Southeast since 2005.  For everything around the Sunbelt League go online to sunbeltleague.com for news, scores, broadcast information, and much more and on Facebook and Twitter @sunbeltbaseball.

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