DAHLONEGA – Late run scoring from No. 16 West Florida led to a 6-5 loss on Wednesday afternoon for the University of North Georgia baseball team. The Nighthawks are now 22-11 on the year and will prepare for three more games at Bob Stein Stadium at Lynn Cottrell Park this weekend as they're back in conference action against Augusta.
Wednesday's game against the Argonauts marked UNG's fifth consecutive game against a top-25 opponent.
While UWF reliever Chase Wilkerson held the Nighthawks at bay during a late-game comeback effort, the Argonauts had a pair of hitters record big days en route to the win.
The game started slow as each team had only mustered up a single run by the start of the sixth inning until a sacrifice bunt gave UWF its first lead of the game at 2-1.
UNG answered in the home half of the frame as sophomore second baseman Brady Skipper connected on his fourth home run of the season. This one was a two run blast over the left field wall to put the Nighthawks back in front 3-2.
The seventh inning held scoreless before the Argonauts edged in front again with three runs in the eighth inning.
The inning started with three straight singles for UWF, the last of which from senior pitcher Tyler Dowdy tied the game at 3-3.
Yes, Dowdy, Tuesday's starter in a 9-3 loss for the Argonauts, pinch hit to bring home the tying run in the eighth. This was not Dowdy's first time being called upon to use his bat instead of his arm to help UWF. The Plant City, Fla. native was ranked as the seventh best catcher in the Sunshine State out of high school. While he's been primarily used on the mound in his collegiate career, he has recorded 29 or more at bats in all four years with the Argonauts. His single on Wednesday kept a rally going that ultimately led to the win.
After Dowdy, junior infielder Darrien McDowell stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded. The home run leader for UWF kept the ball in the yard this time, but did enough damage to bring home a pair of runs. He sliced a double down the right field line to score two and record his fourth hit of the game.
In the bottom of the eighth, trailing 5-3, UNG got a run back thanks to a defensive miscue from the Argonauts. Redshirt sophomore first baseman Phillip Ard scored on a ground ball from junior left fielder Josh Sosa who reached after a throwing error from the shortstop position.
Junior outfielder Dean Hotz added a critical insurance run in the top of the ninth for UWF as he singled through the left side with runners at second and third.
Going into the last of the ninth, the Nighthawks staged another valiant comeback effort.
Sophomore center fielder Andrews Opata served as UNG's first base runner after working a one-out walk to bring the tying run to the plate. He moved into scoring position on a ground out in the next at bat.
Then, junior shortstop Riley Frost brought Opata home with a single.
With two outs, the Nighthawks had the tying run on base and the winning run at the plate. Frost moved into scoring position with a stolen base in the next at bat before Ard worked a full-count walk to stretch the inning to sophomore right fielder Edwin Bowman IV.
However, Bowman flew out to left field to end the game.
With three wins over ranked opponents in the last week for UNG, it will look to keep that momentum going against Augusta with a three game set this weekend. With 10-5 records in Peach Belt play this year, the Nighthawks and Jaguars sit in a tie for second place with Lander in the PBC standings, all one game back of Georgia College.
First pitch from Bob Stein Stadium is set for Friday, Apr. 5 at 6 p.m. and the series will conclude with a 1 p.m. start on Sunday, Apr. 7.
