THOMASVILLE, N.C. -- The No. 14 University of North Georgia baseball team secured its first NCAA postseason victory on Thursday afternoon with a 10-3 win over fourth-seeded Georgia College at the 2015 NCAA Division II Southeast Regional hosted by Catawba at Finch Field in Thomasville.
UNG (36-15) advances to face the winner of the No. 2 Mount Olive and No. 5 Wingate game at 7 p.m. Friday.
Georgia College (33-18) will now face the winner of No. 1 Catawba and No. 6 North Greenville at 11:00 a.m. Friday.
The matchup with the Bobcats was the fifth meeting of the season between the two teams. UNG won the regular season series, but the Bobcats took a decisive 9-3 decision in the Peach Belt Conference quarterfinals less than a week ago.
North Georgia jumped out to a 3-0 lead with three runs in the bottom of the second inning. Travis Naraine started the inning with a solo home run to right field and the Nighthawks would go on to add two unearned runs on a fielding error and a wild pitch.
After three walks by UNG starter Dylan Peppers to open the third inning, North Georgia was able to work out of a bases-loaded, no out situation with a 1-2-3 double play capped by an around-the-runner catch outside the baseline from Trevor Sams at first. Peppers induced a fly to right to end the inning.
North Georgia added four runs in the fourth inning fueled by a RBI single by Connor Hoover followed by consecutive RBI doubles by Bo Edwards and Sam Tidaback.
After the Nighthawks added a single run in the fifth to stretch their lead to 8-0, GC was finally able to break through in the sixth with three runs highlighted by a two-RBI double by Brandon Pursell.
After Josh Bryan entered in relief of Peppers, Pursell scored on another double, this time off the bat of Jake Sandlin, cutting the Nighthawk lead to 8-3.
Peppers (7-2) finished his five and two-thirds innings of work allowing three runs, all earned, on six hits while striking out three. The junior was able to work around seven free passes en route to posting his seventh victory of the season.
In the seventh, a RBI single by Connor Hoover scored Joey Cecere, who doubled to the right field corner before UNG rounded out the scoring with a sacrifice fly by Devin Gearhart that plated Trevor Sams an inning later.
The eighth inning was also highlighted by a trio of defensive web gems. A diving catch by left fielder Stephen Tomlinson lit the first out as the freshman navigated the outfield incline leading up to the fence before making the catch. He also gloved the second out on the left field line after traveling from the gap for the catch. Bryan ended the inning by snagging a hot line drive right back up the middle from Brandon Benson.
GC starter John Clark (4-2) took the loss after allowing three runs, with just one earned, in an inning of work.
Offensively, Naraine led the way at the plate for the Nighthawks with a three-hit day, while Hoover and Sams each recorded a pair of hits apiece. Tremayne Toorie reached base in all five plate appearances as he was also a perfect 1-for-1 with four walks.
For Georgia College, Dylan Cook, Steve Hazel and Logan Mattix each tallied two hits apiece.
UNG Baseball Advances At NCAA Southeast Regional With 10-3 Win Over Ga. College
5/14/2015 | Baseball | Box Score
THOMASVILLE, N.C. | The No. 14 University of North Georgia baseball team secured its first NCAA postseason victory on Thursday afternoon with a 10-3 win over fourth-seeded Georgia College at the 2015 NCAA Division II Southeast Regional hosted by Catawba at Finch Field in Thomasville.
UNG (36-15) advances to face the winner of the No. 2 Mount Olive and No. 5 Wingate game tomorrow (May 15) evening at 7:00 p.m.
Georgia College (33-18) will now face the winner of No. 1 Catawba and No. 6 North Greenville at 11:00 a.m. on Friday.
The matchup with the Bobcats was the fifth meeting of the season between the two teams. UNG won the regular season series, but the Bobcats took a decisive 9-3 decision in the Peach Belt Conference quarterfinals less than a week ago.
North Georgia jumped out to a 3-0 lead with three runs in the bottom of the second inning. Travis Naraine started the inning with a solo home run to right field and the Nighthawks would go on to add two unearned runs on a fielding error and a wild pitch.
After three walks by UNG starter Dylan Peppers to open the third inning, North Georgia was able to work out of a bases-loaded, no out situation with a 1-2-3 double play capped by an around-the-runner catch outside the baseline from Trevor Sams at first. Peppers induced a fly to right to end the inning.
North Georgia added four runs in the fourth inning fueled by a RBI single by Connor Hoover followed by consecutive RBI doubles by Bo Edwards and Sam Tidaback.
After the Nighthawks added a single run in the fifth to stretch their lead to 8-0, GC was finally able to break through in the sixth with three runs highlighted by a two-RBI double by Brandon Pursell.
After Josh Bryan entered in relief of Peppers, Pursell scored on another double, this time off the bat of Jake Sandlin, cutting the Nighthawk lead to 8-3.
Peppers (7-2) finished his five and two-thirds innings of work allowing three runs, all earned, on six hits while striking out three. The junior was able to work around seven free passes en route to posting his seventh victory of the season.
In the seventh, a RBI single by Connor Hoover scored Joey Cecere, who doubled to the right field corner before UNG rounded out the scoring with a sacrifice fly by Devin Gearhart that plated Trevor Sams an inning later.
The eighth inning was also highlighted by a trio of defensive web gems. A diving catch by left fielder Stephen Tomlinson lit the first out as the freshman navigated the outfield incline leading up to the fence before making the catch. He also gloved the second out on the left field line after traveling from the gap for the catch. Bryan ended the inning by snagging a hot line drive right back up the middle from Brandon Benson.
GC starter John Clark (4-2) took the loss after allowing three runs, with just one earned, in an inning of work.
Offensively, Naraine led the way at the plate for the Nighthawks with a three-hit day, while Hoover and Sams each recorded a pair of hits apiece. Tremayne Toorie reached base in all five plate appearances as he was also a perfect 1-for-1 with four walks.
For Georgia College, Dylan Cook, Steve Hazel and Logan Mattix each tallied two hits apiece.
