FLORENCE, S.C. | The University of North Georgia pitching staff baffled Augusta's batters as the Nighthawks claimed a 3-1 victory while allowing just five hits in the team's final game of the Peach Belt Conference Tournament. Although UNG could still be involved in a three-way tie atop of Pool A, the tiebreaker automatically goes to the top-seeded team, bringing North Georgia's season to an end.
 
The Nighthawks finish the year with a 32-20 record after going 2-1 at this week's PBC Tournament.
 
North Georgia plated all three of its runs in the top of the third inning, all-coming off of a two-out rally. Steven Tomlinson got things going with a two-out double to right center and Taylor Jones followed with a four pitch walk to put runners at first and second. That's when Conner Corbitt plated the first run of the game with a single up the middle to score Tomlinson from second. A balk moved Jones and Corbitt into scoring position for Kevin Krupp who deposited a two-run single into left field to score both runners and give the Nighthawks a 3-0 lead.
 
Five UNG pitchers combined to hold Augusta to only five hits and one walk on the night. Steven Bower, who was coming off a minor injury, worked 3.0 innings of shutout ball before giving way to Josh Bryan (2-1) who would go the next 4.1 allowing the only Augusta run of the game in the bottom of the eighth. Bryan picked up the victory while Zach Verner picked up his fifth save of the season closing the door on the Jaguars by collecting the final two outs of the game.
 
The 2016 squad claims the fifth best winningest percentage since UNG joined the Peach Belt Conference in 2006.
 
While the Nighthawks are still eligible for selection to the NCAA Division II Tournament, the team is ranked outside the Top 10 in the NCAA's Southeast Region Rankings and is not expected to receive an at-large bid.