COLUMBUS, Ga. – After dealing with unscheduled interruptions, the University of North Georgia baseball team took one of the first two games against sixth-ranked Columbus State (16-4, 9-2 PBC) to open up their three-game Peach Belt Conference series at CSU's Burger King Stadium at Ragsdale Field. The Nighthawks dropped the first game, completing the final five innings on Saturday (Mar. 11), falling 10-0. UNG (11-9, 5-6 PBC) bounced back to take a 3-2 victory and even the series in the second game.
Columbus State, 10 North Georgia, 0
Trailing 5-0 in the third inning on Friday (Mar. 10), the series-opening game was suspended due to a power outage. Columbus State added another five runs once play resumed on Saturday, taking a 1-0 lead in the series.
North Georgia, 3 Columbus State, 2
For the fourth series this season, the Nighthawks took the second game, this time behind an impressive pitching performance by
Matthew Heard (5-1) and
Ben Koch. Heard finished with five and two-thirds innings pitched, allowing two runs and earning the win.
Ben Koch earned his fourth save of the season, with three and one-third innings pitched, allowing no runs, no hits and striking out two.
Jace Bowen led the North Georgia offense, earning three hits in five at-bats and scoring the game's opening run in the first inning.
Andrews Opata added another run in the fourth by way of the first homerun of his collegiate career.
Connor Frost added multiple hits to the box score finishing with two hits in four trips to the plate.
Next Up
The third and final game of the series between North Georgia and Columbus State is scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. first pitch on Sunday (Mar. 12), weather permitting.
