DAHLONEGA -- Peach Belt Conference Freshman of the Week Connor Hoover drove in four runs in a two-for-three performance with two walks as the No. 18 University of North Georgia baseball team defeated Truett-McConnell, 7-1, Tuesday evening at Bob Stein Stadium. The Nighthawks advance to 31-12 with the win while the Bears drop to 19-22 on the season.
UNG got on the board in the second with a three run inning as Joey Cecere picked up an RBI single off the glove of the third baseman and Hoover followed with a two run single through the right side. Andrew Gordon drove in another the next inning with a single to left center to extend the North Georgia lead, 4-0.
The Bears scored their lone run of the game in the fourth as Chris Stevens belted a solo home run of the wall in left to make it 4-1.
The Nighthawks scored three more in the fifth with a RBI single to center and another two-run single from Hoover - this time to right center - giving UNG the 7-1 lead that proved final.
The game saw a total of 12 pitchers take the mound with Truett-McConnell putting seven different players on the bump.
Dahlonega native Danile McCrary (1-0) earned his first career win in relief, tossing 2 1/3 innings of shutout ball without allowing a hit with just one walk and three strikeouts.
North Georgia will turn its attention back to the Peach Belt title race as the team enters the final weekend of league play. The Nighthawks are slatted to host Montevallo in a Saturday doubleheader with the series wrapping with a single game on Sunday. UNG can clinch their first PBC regular season baseball title with two wins or one win paired with both an Armstrong and UNC Pembroke loss.
