DAHLONEGA – The University of North Georgia (UNG) baseball team fell 12-9 in the final game of its Peach Belt Conference weekend series against Lander at Bob Stein Stadium at Lynn Cottrell Park on Sunday.
Despite the loss to the Bearcats (21-9, 9-3 Peach Belt), the Nighthawks (20-9, 10-2 Peach Belt) remain tied for first place in the conference with Georgia College whom UNG swept in a three-game, non-conference series back in late February.
At 10-2 through the first four conference series, UNG is off to the best start in conference play in program history since joining the conference back in 2006.
Lander outlasted the Nighthawks in an offensive marathon on Sunday.
The Bearcats got on the board in the first inning with a solo home run from Grant Sherrod. The lead would not last long however as a sacrifice fly from redshirt freshman
Nicholas Stinson and an RBI single from sophomore left fielder
Kyle Robitzsch quickly gave UNG a 2-1 lead after one inning.
The Nighthawks added to the advantage as Robitzsch added more RBI to his total with a two-run single in the third inning to make it 4-1.
The fourth inning belonged to Lander as the Bearcats posted three runs to tie the game while subsequently holding UNG scoreless in the bottom half of the frame.
In the fifth, Lander reclaimed the lead at 6-4 thanks to a double steal and an RBI single from Cooper Backman.
The lead did not last long however as the Nighthawks opened the home half of the inning with runners on the corners and one out as redshirt junior
Phillip Ard stepped to the plate. Ard reached on a deep infield single at second base which allowed a run to score and make it 6-5.
Stinson then reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases for Robitzsch. The second-year left fielder came through in a clutch spot once more with another RBI single up the middle that brought in a pair of runs to make it 7-6 in favor of the Nighthawks.
Robitzsch finished with a sublime performance on Sunday going a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with a run scored and five RBI in the game. The outing is tied for the most RBI in a single game this season for UNG.
Robitzsch scored his lone run of the day in the next at bat as it was senior third baseman
Riley Frost's turn to come through in a big at bat. The hot-corner defender floated a two-out single into left field that allowed Stinson and Robitzsch to cross home and make it 9-6.
However, the Nighthawks would not score again in the game as Lander rallied back with two runs in the eighth and a four-run ninth inning to pull out the 12-9 come-from-behind victory.
UNG now prepares for its toughest test to date this season as the Nighthawks will head to Salisbury, N.C. to face No. 5 Catawba on Wednesday. First pitch against the fifth-ranked Indians is set for 4 p.m.
