DAHLONEGA – A late play at the plate was the difference in the University of North Georgia baseball team's 6-5 loss to USC Aiken (6-2, 1-0 PBC) to open up Peach Belt Conference play at Bob Stein Stadium at Lynn Cottrell Park. The Pacers cut down
Jace Bowen with a throw home from right field in the bottom of the ninth after a
Brady Skipper single.
The Nighthawks found success in the back half of their lineup, with
Josh Sosa (2) and
Jorge Arispuro (3) combining for all five of UNG's RBIs in the eighth and ninth spot in the order. Sosa had one hit on two at-bats earning a walk in the fourth after driving in two runs on a triple in the second inning.
Arispuro anchored the lineup with two hits and one walk in his four trips to the plate. The Lawrenceville, Ga. native drove in three runs in the game, homering in the sixth inning to tie the game at five.
Jacob Lassiat (0-1) finished two innings of work with four strikeouts on just two hits but a single up the middle in the eighth to drive in the game-winning run gave him the loss.
Key Moments
- The second inning opened up the scoring for both sides, with USCA and UNG adding runs in their respective half inning. The two-run triple by Sosa highlighted the Nighthawks' scoring.
- A two-run shot over the left field wall by Arispuro evened the score at 5-5.
- USCA right fielder Luke Parker cut down Bowen at the plate for the second out of the ninth inning.
Next Up
North Georgia will look to even the series tomorrow (Feb. 18) for the second game of the three game series. Game two is scheduled for a 2:00 p.m. first pitch.
