DAHLONEGA - A fifth inning score briefly pulled the University of North Georgia (UNG) baseball team within a run, but Lander regained momentum in the sixth as the Nighthawks dropped a 4-1 Peach Belt Conference loss Saturday afternoon at Bob Stein Stadium.

After four scoreless innings, Lander broke through in the fifth inning with a solo home run by before adding an unearned run later in the frame on a sacrifice fly to take a 2-0 lead.

North Georgia answered in the bottom half of the inning when Brady Skipper doubled to left center to score Jake Streeter, trimming the deficit to 2-1 and briefly shifting momentum back to the Nighthawks.

The Bearcats regained control in the sixth, however, plating two runs on RBI singles to extend the lead to 4-1. North Georgia was unable to generate another scoring threat the rest of the way.

Skipper accounted for one of the Nighthawks' three hits on the afternoon, while Schley Gordy and Caleb Farr also recorded hits.

Kevin Cox started on the mound for North Georgia, tossing six innings and allowing four runs on five hits while striking out three. Evan Carter followed with two scoreless innings in relief, and Ryan Taylor worked a scoreless ninth inning with one strikeout.

North Georgia looks to bounce back Sunday as the Nighthawks and Lander meet in the series finale with first pitch set for noon.