DAHLONEGA — The University of North Georgia baseball team scattered just three hits in a 7-2 loss to Columbus State Sunday afternoon.
In the top of the second with the bases loaded, Devin Gearhart turned a double play by himself as he caught the line drive at third and then dove to turn the double play by tagging the base a split second before Mike McClellan could return to the bag.
The Nighthawks got on the scoreboard in the first when Connor Hoover hit a single to left center. Erick Delgado scored from first when Tyler Fichter bobbled the ball in center field.
In the fourth, Steven Tomlinson climbed the wall in center to rob Christian Miller of a homerun and keep the 1-0 lead.
Columbus State scored in the top of the fifth on a Blake Edwards RBI double to left center. North Georgia responded in the bottom half of the frame on a Tomlinson leadoff home run to right center.
The Cougars took the lead for good when Miller hit a two-run home run down the right field line. They added four more in the ninth, highlighted by a Matt Nettles single that scored two runs for Columbus State.
North Georgia starts a four-game road trip with Anderson University on Wed., March 2. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.
