ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – The University of North Georgia Baseball team dropped game two of the series 5-2 against Flagler in St. Augustine, Fla. Saturday afternoon. With the loss, the Nighthawks fall to 26-14 overall and 13-7 in Peach Belt Conference play, falling to third in the standings behind Georgia College in second and Lander in first. 

On Saturday, the Nighthawks fell behind early and were unable to mount a comeback after totaling just four hits against Saints starter Cooper Smith. 

Smith got off to a hot start in the game for Flagler, not allowing a hit against UNG until the fourth inning.

By then, the offense had already given Smith the lead he would need to hang on and win the game. The Saints got on the board in the first with an RBI single from freshman catcher Jesse Sullivan.

A four run second inning followed for Flagler as the Saints racked up six base knocks in the inning, headlined by a two run single from junior infielder Taylor Clapp.

The Nighthawks did get a pair of runs back in the fourth inning after junior shortstop Riley Frost doubled to left field, bringing home freshman Noah Darden and redshirt sophomore Phillip Ard to make it 5-2.

UNG would get another hit in the game until its final inning facing Smith in the eighth. Sophomore utility player Edwin Bowman IV led off the frame with a single, but Smith worked out of the inning with a strikeout, a ground out and capped it off by picking off Bowman at third base to end the inning.

Junior pitcher Jake Hill came on in the ninth and retired the side in order with a pair of strikeouts to earn the save.

The series concludes tomorrow, Sunday, Apr. 14 with a 12 p.m. finale as the Nighthawks try to salvage a win and avoid the sweep.