AIKEN, S.C. – Despite a valiant comeback effort in the final four innings, the No. 13 University of North Georgia (UNG) baseball team was edged out by USC Aiken (USCA) 4-3 on Saturday afternoon.
Both offenses were off to a slow start in game two, as the Pacers plated the first run in the bottom of the fourth with a leadoff triple and an RBI groundout to take the first lead of the day.
With two outs on the board, USCA rallied for a pair of RBI singles to escape the inning with a 3-0 lead.
The Nighthawks found some life in the bottom of the sixth with a leadoff double by Kyle Robitzsch and walk from Cam Hodge. Caleb Farr stepped up and roped a single into left field, while Robitzsch and Jake Streeter made their way home after a pair of errors on the right fielder to cut the lead to one.
In the top of the seventh, Jake Prince grounded into a double play after a leadoff single from Ben Hamacher to give the Pacers two quick outs. Brody Yeomans did not back down, as he launched his seventh home run of the season to tie the game.
The Pacers had an answer in the home half of the inning with a two-out solo homer of their own to recapture the lead.
North Georgia battled through the final two innings but came up just short due to a few standout defensive plays by the Pacers.
Hamacher, Yeomans and Farr each accounted for two hits on the afternoon, combining for six of the Nighthawks' nine hits.
Andrew Duval was credited with his second loss of the season, tossing 7.2 innings on the mound while surrendering 11 hits and four earned runs.
The Pacers (35-14, 20-9 PBC) were led by Chancellor Jennings' 3-4 performance at the plate and his homer in the seventh to tie the series.
North Georgia (37-12, 25-4 PBC) will battle it out with the Pacers in the final game of the regular season tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. to decide the winner of this series.
