DAHLONEGA, Ga. – North Georgia College & State University took advantage of two defensive errors to score three runs early and added three runs in the eighth inning to take game one of a three-game series 6-0 from Lander University here on a cold and windy Friday night.

Lander drops to 10-16 overall and 3-10 in the PBC, while North Georgia improves to 12-11, 4-3.

Chris Curtis picked up his fourth win of the season in nine shutout innings, scattering eight hits and striking out five in the compete game. Justin Altman (4-2) took the loss for Lander as he allowed 10 hits and six runs (two unearned), while throwing 128 pitches in 7.2 innings of work.

The Saints loaded the bases with two outs in the second for Andre Airich who got hit by a pitch to bring Brett George to the plate for a 1-0 lead. Josh Tate followed with a grounder to short that should have ended the inning, but a bobble by R.J. Milford allowed Tate to reach and Creston Warner to cross home to take a 2-0 advantage.

North Georgia added to their lead in the fifth when Justin Rickett hit a routine fly ball to centerfield, but TJ Guinan botched the play and allowed Morrison to score from first and Rickett to reach second. The Saints added three insurance runs in the eighth inning.

Jonathan Myers went 3-for-4 for the Bearcats, while Malcolm McLeod went 1-for-3 with one double.

North Georgia and Lander will continue their PBC series at 2 p.m., Saturday with a doubleheader.