DAHLONEGA - Behind a complete-game performance from Matthew Heard, the No. 9 University of North Georgia (UNG) baseball team opened its Peach Belt Conference series with a 5-2 victory over No. 19 Lander on Friday night at Bob Stein Stadium.

Heard was in control throughout, tossing a nine-inning complete game on 119 pitches while allowing two runs on six hits with one walk and five strikeouts to improve to 4-0 on the season.

Lander threatened early in the top of the first, placing a runner on second with one out, but Heard struck out the next batter before Jake Streeter cut down a runner at the plate with a throw from center field to keep the Bearcats off the scoreboard. Heard then retired Lander in order in both the second and third innings to settle into a rhythm.

North Georgia (11-2, 4-0 PBC) broke through in the bottom of the third. Streeter led off with a double and JD Coleman reached on an error before Ben Hamacher delivered an RBI single to open the scoring. Cam Hodge followed with a sacrifice fly, and Kyle Robitzsch added an RBI single to cap a three-run inning and give the Nighthawks a 3-0 advantage.

The Bearcats answered with a run in the fourth and added another in the sixth to trim the deficit to one but Heard limited further damage and continued to work efficiently on the mound.

The Nighthawks added insurance in the seventh when Hodge singled home Hamacher, chasing Lander's starting pitcher. North Georgia later pushed its final run across in the eighth as Brody Yeomans scored on a balk.

Heard closed the door by retiring the Bearcats in order in both the eighth and ninth innings to secure the series-opening win.

Hamacher led the North Georgia offense with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate, while Hodge drove in two runs.

The series continues Saturday with first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m.