DAHLONEGA – Securing a series win in the first two games of the University of North Georgia baseball team's three-game Peach Belt Conference series against Flagler is how the Nighthawks opened up the weekend at Bob Stein Stadium at Lynn Cottrell Park. UNG took a pair of one-run wins over the Saints, ending the first game on top 3-2 before rallying in the second game to grab a 5-4 win.
North Georgia displayed their best in the bullpen as seven Nighthawks came in for relief, allowing just one run combined in those appearances.
North Georgia, 3 Flagler, 2
A hot start offensively was enough to work with as UNG jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning.
Jace Bowen kicked off the afternoon with a leadoff single, advancing to second on an error at third that left two runners on.
Nik Levensteins doubled in the gap to bring home Bowen and
Riley Frost to take a 2-0 lead.
Connor Frost singled next as Levensteins scored to put on a pivotal third run on the board.
Wes Lott began the day on the hill, rolling through the first three innings before allowing one run in the third and one in the fourth. The Nighthawks called upon one of their best arms in the bullpen this season
Zach Green (W, 4-0), who managed two and two-thirds innings pitched, allowing no runs on two hits.
Ben Koch and
Reid Howard (S, 1) finished off the Saints lineup in the final two and one-third innings as the Saints could find only one hit off the duo.
Connor and
Riley Frost added two hits each, while
Edwin Bowman IV joined in on the fun, adding two hits of his own. Levensteins' swing was the biggest of the game, scoring two of the three runs to lead the team in RBIs on his first-inning double.
North Georgia, 5 Flagler, 4
The Saints looked to return the favor in the second game, earning a three-run first inning of their own before
Matthew Heard settled in, holding them scoreless for the final five innings of his six-inning outing. Once again, the bullpen proved key in the win, helping to keep the Nighthawks within striking distance.
Jaret Bales (W, 1-0) earned the win for North Georgia, throwing one and one-third inning and allowing just one run on one hit. UNG's bats came alive in the seventh, putting up five runs to take their first lead of the game. Bales had an effective trio of reinforcements in relief, with
Pete Weil and
Jack Emacio each getting an out before
Jacob Lassiat (S, 1) closed out the comeback victory, allowing no hits, no runs and striking out one batter in his one-inning of work.
Bowen anchored the leadoff spot for the Nighthawks finishing tied for the team lead in hits and RBIs with
Justin Bailey as the two finished with two hits and two RBIs in the game. Bowen's day was highlighted with a bases-loaded single in the seventh to give North Georgia their lead, driving in
Josh Sosa and Bailey to make it a 4-3 game.
Next Up
The Nighthawks will look to wrap up the three-game series this weekend, with the game scheduled for Sunday (Apr. 8) at 12:00 p.m.
