MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. – Nine innings were not enough between the University of North Georgia and the Georgia College & State University baseball teams Sunday afternoon. The Bobcats took down the Nighthawks 8-5 after a three-run walk off home run in the eleventh inning from sophomore outfielder Cam McNearney.
UNG relinquished a five-run lead in the sixth inning as GCSU stormed back to eventually force extra innings.
The Nighthawks opened the scoring with a pair of RBI singles in the first from junior infielder Riley Frost and sophomore infielder Brady Skipper.
The 2-0 UNG lead was extended again with a three-run fifth inning for head coach Tom Cantrell's team.
After junior outfielder Jorge Arispuro reached on a fielder's choice, sophomore outfielder Andrews Opata brought him around a few batters later with his sixth double of the year. Opata came around to score a few batters later after a throwing error from GCSU junior shortstop Mason Poole on a Frost single.
The catalyst for the Bobcats' sixth inning comeback was freshman outfielder Braeden Smith as he launched a triple down the right field line to score a run. Smith was brought home four pitches later after a single up the middle from Poole to make it 5-2. With two outs and the bases loaded later in the inning, McNearney singled out into center field to bring home two runs. An errant throw from Opata in center field allowed the tying run to score.
The game remained deadlocked at 5-5 into the late stages of the afternoon and beyond. Both teams went down 1-2-3 in their respective ninth innings to push the contest to extras.
The Nighthawks only got one hit and two base runners in the extra innings, the lone knock being Opata's seventh double of the season. It came with the bases empty and one out in the eleventh, but was followed up by a ground out and a fly out to end the frame.
In the bottom of the eleventh, McNearney found himself in a favorable spot to end the game. With runners on first and second and only one out, McNearney worked the at bat to a favorable 3-1 count against UNG redshirt sophomore lefty Cameron Mobley.
He turned on the next pitch, launching it over the left field wall to win the game for the Bobcats.
Next, the Nighthawks will return home to officially begin Peach Belt play with a three game set against Columbus State. The series begins with game one on Friday, Mar. 1 at 4 p.m. from Bob Stein Stadium at Lynn Cottrell Park. Games two and three will follow on Saturday and Sunday, with all three being broadcast on the Nighthawk Sports Network.
