DAHLONEGA – The no. 13 University of North Georgia (UNG) baseball team broke open a tight game with a dominant late offensive effort, plating eight runs in the sixth inning to defeat Middle Georgia 15-4 in a mercy-rule Peach Belt Conference victory Saturday afternoon at Bob Stein Stadium.

After two scoreless innings, the Nighthawks struck first in the home half of the third, capitalizing on pressure at the plate and defensive miscues to plate four runs. Caleb Farr drove in the opening run on a fielder's choice before Kyle Robitzsch reached on an outfield error to extend the inning. Brody Yeomans followed with a two-run single through the right side, giving North Georgia an early 4-0 advantage.

Middle Georgia answered in the fourth, scoring four runs to briefly tie the contest at 4-4, taking advantage of Nighthawk defensive errors despite recording just one hit in the frame.

North Georgia responded immediately in the bottom half. Yeomans delivered again with a two-run single to reclaim the lead, and Schley Gordy added an RBI single to push the Nighthawks back in front 7-4.

The game turned decisively in the sixth inning as the Nighthawks sent 13 batters to the plate and erupted for eight runs. Farr and Jake Prince each drove in runs during the rally, while Ben Hamacher delivered a two-run single and Farr later added a two-run knock to highlight the inning. Robitzsch capped the scoring with an RBI single as North Georgia reached the 10-run margin to end the game early.

Yeomans led the offensive effort with four RBI on a 2-for-5 day, while Hamacher finished 3-for-4 with two RBI. Farr added three RBI as part of a balanced Nighthawks attack that produced 10 hits and scored 15 runs.

On the mound, Kevin Cox (3-1) earned the win, tossing six innings while allowing four runs on four hits with no walks and four strikeouts. Evan Carter worked a scoreless seventh inning in relief.

The series concludes Sunday at 1 p.m. at Bob Stein Stadium.