YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. — The fifth-ranked University of North Georgia baseball team used an 11-run sixth inning to overpower Young Harris, 13-1, Friday evening at YHC's Zell Miller Field. The Nighthawks improve to 27-7 on the year with the win and maintain their one-game lead in the Peach Belt Conference standings at 12-4.
 
North Georgia struck first in the top of the fourth, scoring a pair of runs off a Bill Leroy single up the middle and a sacrifice fly to center by Conner Corbitt. The Mountain Lions answered with an unearned run in the home half of the inning to pull back within one, 2-1.
 
The Nighthawks broke the game wide open in the sixth, plating 11 runs in the inning. Seven runs came in by way of a bases loaded walk or hit by pitch while Steven Tomlinson, Devin Gearhart, Michael Bell, and Michael Gouge each added RBI singles to put UNG up 13-1.
 
NOTES
- Sophomore Steven Bower (7-2) earned the win on the mound allowing just one unearned run on two hits in his seven innings of work. Bower struck out five while allowing just three walks.
 
- Michael Gouge led the UNG effort at the plate with a 3-for-5 performance with two RBI and a run scored.
 
- North Georgia improves to 9-4 all-time against Young Harris. UNG has won seven of the last eight games in the series.
 
NEXT UP
The Nighthawks will look to clinch the series in game two tomorrow. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.