MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. –
Matthew Heard threw seven strong innings to improve to 3-0 as the No. 29 University of North Georgia (UNG) baseball team opened Peach Belt Conference play with an 11-2 win over Georgia College Friday night.
Heard allowed two runs on five hits while striking out eight before
Tyler Chinpire closed the door with two hitless innings in relief, fanning four.
North Georgia broke through in the third inning when
Cam Hodge singled through the right side to drive in
Ben Hamacher, giving the Nighthawks an early lead.
The advantage grew in the fifth as Hamacher doubled to left-center to bring home
JD Coleman.
North Georgia put the game out of reach with a five-run sixth inning.
Jake Streeter drew a bases-loaded walk to score
Hunter Thompson, followed by Coleman's RBI groundout. Hodge added another run with a walk before
Kyle Robitzsch delivered the big swing of the frame, ripping a two-run single to center to cap the rally.
Georgia College answered with two runs in the bottom of the sixth to cut the deficit to five, but the Nighthawks responded immediately in the seventh.
Schley Gordy scored on a throwing error before Hamacher lined an RBI single to center to restore momentum.
North Georgia added two more insurance runs in the ninth, scoring on Coleman's RBI fielder's choice and Hodge's bases-loaded walk.
The Nighthawks finished with 10 hits, paced by Hamacher's 3-for-4 night at the plate. Hodge drove in three, while Hamacher, Robitzsch and Coleman recorded two.
North Georgia improved to 8-1 overall and 1-0 in conference play.
The series concludes Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.
