Tigerville, S.C. – The No. 14 University of North Georgia (UNG) baseball team erased a seven-run deficit with a six-run fifth inning but could not complete the comeback Thursday night, falling 10-8 to Francis Marion in the opening round of the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional.
The Patriots struck first in the opening inning on an RBI groundout from Ethan McAnally before breaking the game open in the third. Will Dorrell connected on a three-run homer to left field to push the lead to 4-0.
Francis Marion added another run in the fourth on an RBI single from Charlie Bussey III before McAnally homered to center in the fifth. A throwing error later in the inning allowed another run to score as the Patriots built a 7-0 advantage.
North Georgia answered immediately. The Nighthawks sent nine batters to the plate and scored six runs in the fifth to cut the deficit to one.
Brody Yeomans started the rally with an RBI single before Kyle Robitzsch followed with a run-scoring base hit. Cam Hodge doubled to center to plate another run, and Jake Streeter delivered a two-run single up the middle to bring the Nighthawks within one. Hunter Thompson capped the inning with a sacrifice fly to make it 7-6.
Francis Marion responded in the sixth as McAnally delivered a two-run double to stretch the lead back to three runs. Jimmy Koza added a solo homer in the seventh to make it 10-6.
The Nighthawks continued to battle late, getting a solo home run from Thompson in the eighth before Streeter drove in a run on a fielder's choice in the ninth, but North Georgia could get no closer.
Streeter finished with three RBI, while Thompson drove in two runs. Yeomans, Robitzsch and Hodge each recorded two hits and an RBI in the loss.
Matthew Heard took the loss on the mound after allowing seven runs across 4.1 innings. Dylan Holbrook worked 2.1 innings in relief, and Chandler Thiel closed the game with 2.1 scoreless innings while striking out five.
North Georgia will face Lander University Friday at 2 p.m. in an elimination game.
