ORANGEBURG, S.C. - A four-run first inning set the tone as the No. 14 University of North Georgia (UNG) baseball team rolled to a 19-4 victory over Claflin in the series opener Friday.

The Nighthawks capitalized early, scoring four unearned runs in the first inning highlighted by a grand slam from Cam Hodge. North Georgia added two more in the second on a two-run single from Kyle Robitzsch and continued to build the lead throughout the afternoon.

Brady Skipper added an RBI sacrifice fly in the third before Hunter Thompson launched a two-run home run in the fourth to extend the lead to 9-0.

Claflin pushed across its first run in the bottom of the fourth on a passed ball, but North Georgia answered in the fifth as Brody Yeomans blasted a three-run homer to make it 12-1.

The Nighthawks broke the game open in the sixth inning with a seven-run outburst. The frame featured RBI from Caleb Farr, Matthew Haber and Jake Prince, while Jake Streeter capped the inning with a two-run double as North Georgia stretched the lead to 19-1.

Claflin scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth, including a solo home run, to account for the final margin.

Hodge led the offensive surge, finishing 3-for-3 with four RBI, while Yeomans went 2-for-4 with three RBI. Skipper added two hits and drove in two runs.

Matthew Heard started on the mound, striking out five while allowing one run over three innings of work. Robert Hunt followed and earned the win with two scoreless innings in relief for the Nighthawks.