COLUMBUS — Senior Dylan Peppers continued his dominance on the mound on Sunday, shutting down the Columbus State offense, picking up a school-record 17 strikeouts along the way, as the No. 1 University of North Georgia baseball team defeated the Cougars, 3-1, to secure the series victory. With the win, the Nighthawks move to 32-8 overall and will enter the final weekend of Peach Belt Conference play with a two-game lead at 16-5.
Michael Gouge and Trevor Sams teamed up for back-to-back two-out doubles in the top of the first to give North Georgia an early 1-0 lead. The Nighthawks would add another run in the second with a sacrifice fly RBI to center off the bat of Andres Perez to extend the lead to 2-0.
After four scoreless innings, UNG would add another insurance run in the top of the seventh. Steven Tomlinson led off the inning with a walk and advanced to third on a single to left by Perez that chopped over the head of the third baseman. Devin Gearhart would ground in to a 6-4-3 double play, but it would allow Tomlinson to come in to score and give the Nighthawks a 3-0 advantage that ultimately proved final.
NOTES
- Dylan Peppers (5-2) was nearly untouchable on the mound for UNG, allowing just six base runners on the day with three hits and three walks, while striking out a school-record 17.
- Peppers struck out the side in three different innings and in an incredible display of stamina, struck out the Cougars in order in the bottom of the ninth on just 10 pitches.
- North Georgia moves closer in the all-time series although Columbus still holds a slight edge at 20-18.
NEXT UP
The Nighthawks will entertain Auburn-Montgomery on Wednesday, April 19 before shifting their focus back to PBC play, as Flagler will come to Bob Stein Stadium next weekend. First pitch for the midweek game is set for 6 p.m.
