DAHLONEGA | Freshman shortstop Connor Hoover hit a home run and three doubles in the University of North Georgia baseball team's 16-6 win over Valdosta State Wednesday evening at Bob Stein Stadium. The win advances the Nighthawks to 13-5 on the season.
 
Things were quiet at the plate for both teams in the first five frames, but Hoover would change that in the bottom of the third, sneaking a three-run home run over the right-field wall. The long ball sparked a seven-run inning for UNG that also included a bases-clearing double to left-center off the bat of Trevor Sams.
 
The Nighthawks went on to score a pair of runs in the fourth and one in the fifth off one of Hoover's three doubles on the night, to take 10-0 lead into the sixth.
 
Hoover ties a school record, becoming just the fifth player in UNG history to record three doubles in a game, with the feat last being accomplished on May 9, 2008 by Logan Sharrett against Georgia College.
 
The Blazers finally got on the board in the sixth with an unearned run, but North Georgia would answer in the seventh inning scoring four more runs off homers by Joey Cecere and Sam Tidaback.
 
Valdosta State would score five runs in the final two innings for a more respectable 16-6 final. The 16 runs and 19 hits were both single-game highs for North Georgia this season.

Dylan Peppers (1-1) earned the win on the mound for the Nighthawks at one point retiring 13 consecutive batters. In all, Peppers allowed one unearned run on just four hits while striking out five in 7.0 innings of work.

UNG will head to UNC Pembroke this weekend for a three-game series against the Braves, playing a doubleheader on Saturday and a single game on Sunday. First pitch for Saturday's twin bill is set for 1 p.m.