DAHLONEGA - An eighth inning homer for the Screaming Eagles was the difference in the University of North Georgia's 9-6 loss to No. 15 Southern Indiana Friday evening at Bob Stein Stadium.

The Nighthawks got started quickly when Crews Taylor hit a solo shot on the second pitch of the bottom of the first to give UNG a 1-0 lead. North Georgia added three more runs in the bottom of the second off RBI singles by Josh Profit and Chase Sudduth and a RBI double from Taylor.

USI struck back in the fourth with a RBI triple and a sacrifice fly to cut the lead in half before the Screaming Eagles took the lead in the fifth by putting up a four-spot to take a 6-4 lead halfway through the game.

The Nighthawks fought back in the bottom of the fifth, starting with a Conner Corbitt solo bomb to right center, followed by a Sudduth RBI single in the sixth to tie the game. USI got the game winning runs across on an Ethan Turner three-run homer in the top of the eighth and held on to claim the series opener.

NOTES
- Taylor, Sudduth and Profit each had multi-hit games with Sudduth and Profit each getting three hits in the game.

- There were 11 extra base hits in the game, six of which were doubles.

NEXT UP
The Nighthawks and USI will play a doubleheader tomorrow to finish the three-game set tomorrow with the first game starting at 1 p.m.