Tuesday March 19th, 2024 12:03AM

UNG baseball drops season opener

By AccessWDUN

DAHLONEGA — Conner Corbitt hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning, but the No. 23 University of North Georgia baseball team fell at the hands of Florida Tech Friday night, 7-4, in the 2018 season opener at Bob Stein Stadium.

The Panthers struck first in the fifth inning with a Peirson Reynolds solo bomb to left field. UNG responded in the bottom half of the inning after Jake Howard hit a double and scored on a William Mapes squeeze bunt to tie the game, 1-1.

After a two-run inning from FIT, the Nighthawks answered again with Corbitt's shot to left-center. Florida Tech retook the lead in the top of the seventh, though, on a two-run home run from Daniel Szpik, giving them the lead that they would not relinquish. The Nighthawks added a run in the bottom of the frame to make it 5-4, but UNG was held to just one base runner over the final two innings while the Panthers scored a single run in the final two innings.

NOTES
- Corbitt's homer was the first he has hit since the opening game of last year's NCAA Regional against Lincoln Memorial.

- FIT's Ty Cohen earned the win, while Logan Burt was tabbed with the loss. Andrew Beyer was credited with a save. UNG starter Cade Heil was given a no-decision after his 5.2 inning debut where he gave up three runs and struck out four.

NEXT UP
The Nighthawks will play two more games against FIT in the series as a doubleheader tomorrow afternoon. First pitch from Bob Stein Stadium is set for 1 p.m. Game two will be played approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of game one.

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