JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. — Carson-Newman College held a three-run lead over 10th-ranked North Georgia, but couldn't hang on. The Saints took a 6-5 win over the Eagles at the Silver Diamond Baseball Complex Wednesday afternoon.

The Eagles fall to 10-17 on the season with the loss. The Saints pushed their 2011 record to 17-6.

Carson-Newman took an early lead in bottom of the first inning. After both junior third baseman Lance Rorex (Chattanooga, Tenn.) and junior shortstop Troy Zawadzki (Shrewsbury, Mass.) drew walks, North Georgia starter Kyle Burchfield was pulled in favor of reliever Garrett Smith. C-N senior right fielder Jonathan Dalton (Rutledge, Tenn.) immediately jumped on a Smith pitch two batters later, sending an RBI single into left field. Senior left fielder Wesley Dozier (Cornelius, N.C.) scored on a balk to give the Eagles a 2-0 lead.

C-N freshman starter Tyler Cuming (Red Bank, N.J.) held North Georgia scoreless over the next two innings, but gave up a 2-run homer to Saints catcher Troy Snitker in the fourth to tie the game.

The Eagles bounced right back in the bottom of the fourth. With two outs on the board, junior second baseman Aaron Vargas (Oak Ridge, Tenn.) took a pitch to the arm and landed on first base. A single from junior catcher Mason Guymon (Oak Ridge, Tenn.) put Vargas in scoring position. Rorex sent both men home with a two-RBI single into left field. Rorex advanced to third on a balk, then slid across home plate on an error.

Carson-Newman's 6-3 lead didn't last the next inning as Cuming gave up his second home run, a 3-run shot to North Georgia second baseman Derek Hooper in the top of the fifth.

The Eagles went cold at the plate, managing just two hits the rest of the way. North Georgia was nearly as ineffective at the plate, taking the winning run on the third balk called in the game.

With the tying run on second base in the bottom of the ninth, Dozier struck out swinging for the Eagles.

Rorex finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Senior center fielder Cody Nix (Cartersville, Ga.) was also 2-for-4.

North Georgia reliever Alex Simmons (3-1) took the win on the hill, pitching three and 1/3 inings, giving up one hit, one walk and recording four strikeouts.