Suwanee, Ga. –Sam Frietas went 3-for-3 with two RBI’s as the Norcross Astros defeated the Marietta Patriots 6-2 in seven innings Friday night at Peachtree Ridge High School. 

With the victory, the Astros improved to 13-7 on the season while Marietta fell to 9-12.  The game was delayed 2 hours and 45 minutes due to rain and shortened to seven innings after starting at 9:47 p.m.

After Marietta took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth on a sacrifice fly by Gabe Howell, Crews Taylor singled and James Basham doubled to put runners on second and third for the Astros.  Sam Frietas then delivered a two out single through the right side that scored Taylor and Basham to give Norcross a 2-1 lead.

Norcross delivered more two out magic in the fifth a Nick Wilhite singled to the shortstop.  After a wild pitch and a pass ball moved Wilhite to third, Josh Johnston walked, setting the stage for a successful double steal that increased the Astros lead to 3-1.

Marietta loaded the bases on three consecutive two out singles in the sixth before Trevor Austin hit an RBI single into center field to cut the deficit to 3-2.  Livingston Morris tried to tie the game on the same play but was gunned out at the plate.

The Astros added three more runs on three hits and two errors to make it 6-2 in the sixth.

Jared Staples (3-0) pitched the final 3.1 innings for Norcross to pick up his third victory of the season.  The right-hander from Kennesaw State allowed just one run on five hits with two strikeouts.  Will Griffin (1-1) struck out eight but allowed three runs on seven hits with two walks in 5 innings to pick up his first loss of the season.

Both teams play again on Saturday, July 14th.  The Patriots face the Gwinnett Tides at Georgia Gwinnett College while the Astros face the Atlanta Crackers at Peachtree Ridge High School.  Both games start at 12 p.m.