DAHLONEGA - Andres Perez hit his 20th homer of the season with two outs in the eighth inning, tying a UNG single season record and giving the University of North Georgia baseball team a 4-3 win over No. 9 Columbus State on Senior Day at Bob Stein Stadium. The Nighthawks are now 30-20 headed in to the Peach Belt Conference Tournament.

Crews Taylor got things started early with a homer to left field, the first of his collegiate career, in the first inning to give the Nighthawks a 1-0 lead. After loading the bases in the fourth, the Nighthawks were given another run after the CSU pitcher balked to double the UNG lead.

The Cougars struck back in the fifth, starting with a sacrifice fly by Frank Wager, followed shortly behind by a two-run homer by Turner Vincent to give CSU a 3-2 lead.

It wasn't until the eighth inning when the Nighthawks were able to respond. After a leadoff triple by William Mapes, Chase Sudduth tied the game with a sacrifice fly to right field before Perez crushed a ball down the left field line to push the Nighthawks past the Cougars.

NOTES
- Logan Burt (4-1) was credited with the win in relief after throwing 3.1 without giving up a hit. He struck out two and walked just one.

- With the win, the Nighthawks will be the No. 5 seed in the PBC Tournament and will be in a pool with top-seeded Georgia College, fourth-seeded UNC Pembroke and eighth-seeded Lander.

- The Nighthawks have now won 30 or more games in four straight seasons.

- Prior to first pitch, Burt, Dallas Deavers, Jack Fleming and Steven Tomlinson were honored in the Senior Day festivities.

NEXT UP
The Nighthawks will travel to St. Augustine, Florida, for the PBC Tournament with play starting on Friday, May 11.