PENSACOLA, Fla. – The University of North Georgia (UNG) baseball team suffered a 4-3 loss in game one of its two-game series against West Florida (UWF) at Blue Wahoos Stadium in Pensacola, Fla. on Tuesday.
The loss to the Argonauts (10-7, 6-3 Gulf South) marks the fourth one-run loss of the season for the Nighthawks (11-7, 2-1 Peach Belt) and the sixth defeat of the year by two runs or less.
Played at Blue Wahoos Stadium, the home of the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, the MLB Double-A Affiliate of the Miami Marlins, UNG and UWF got a unique opportunity to experience a professional environment for the non-conference competition.
Redshirt freshman
Nicholas Stinson made the most of the big moment with an RBI triple to right center field in the top of the first inning. Stinson brought in junior shortstop
Jace Bowen on his first career triple to put the Nighthawks ahead 1-0 early.
The rookie also extended his hitting streak to 10 straight games on Tuesday which is the longest active streak of any UNG hitter.
The Argonauts quickly bounced back in the second inning with a pair of runs as heavy traffic on the bases allowed an RBI single and sacrifice fly to put UWF on top 2-1.
It was Stinson again who came through in a big spot in the fifth inning to tie the game at 2-2. With two runners on and one out in the frame, Stinson grounded a ball to shortstop but hustled down the line to beat the throw for an infield single. Bowen once again scored on the play to tie the game.
The Argonauts answered right back however in the home half of the frame with an RBI single from Brett Rowell to put his team ahead 3-2.
The Nighthawks would not go down without a fight. Junior second baseman
Brady Skipper led off the next inning with a walk before stealing second base. A single from senior outfielder
Jorge Arispuro put runners on the corners with nobody out.
Senior catcher
Bryson Stripling then laid down a bunt to force the defense into a tough play. With the speedy Skipper running over at third, UWF had no chance to get him at home as he slid in safely to tie the game. Stripling safely reached first base with the game-tying RBI.
The intense game of tug-of-war reached a stalemate at 3-3. That was until the ninth inning when UWF loaded the bases after two hit batters and a bunt in which UNG failed to get the lead runner heading for third base. With nobody out, Cade Easterbrook then hit a swinging bunt down the first base line that was fielded by Nighthawk redshirt sophomore relief pitcher
Matthew Heard. In a valiant effort, Heard fielded the ball and backhand flipped it to Stripling covering the plate in an attempt to get the force out and keep the game alive. However, Alex Urias beat the throw and slid in safely as the Argonauts walked it off for a 4-3 win.
The series concludes tomorrow, Wednesday, March 5 with a 3 p.m. game between the two teams
