DAHLONEGA — The top-ranked North Georgia baseball team used a 12-run fifth inning to power past Anderson (S.C.), 19-5, Wednesday evening at Bob Stein Stadium.
The Nighthawks advance to 30-7 on the season with the victory.
The two teams went back and forth scoring runs in the first four innings but the Nighthawk fifth would be what defined the game. UNG saw 16 batters come to the plate in the bottom of the fifth and 12 of them would come around to score. The Nighthawks would start off the inning with four RBI singles and continued to pour it on with a three-run double to left center by Devin Gearhart, RBI doubles from Connor Hoover and Bill Leroy, and a two-run homer to left center by Trevor Sams. Conner Corbitt picked up the final RBI of the inning with a single through the right side to put UNG ahead, 16-2.
The two teams would score three runs each in the final three frames of play to give the game its final score, 19-5.
NOTES
- Blake Gaubert (1-0) picked up his first win of the season with a solid six-inning outing, allowing two runs on just five hits. Gaubert struck out four without issuing a free pass.
- Connor Hoover led the Nighthawk effort at the plate with a 4-for-6 performance that included three runs scored and three runs batted in. Bill Leroy went 3-for-3 on the night with a walk, four runs scored and one RBI.
- North Georgia improves to 29-5 all-time against Anderson, having won 11 straight in the series.
STAT OF THE NIGHT
15 - The two teams used a combined 15 pitchers on the night with the Trojans utilizing nine pitchers in the game.
NEXT UP
The Nighthawks will step back into Peach Belt Conference play this weekend, traveling to Columbus State for their last PBC road series of the season. First pitch for game one is set for 6 p.m. on Friday.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2017/4/524524/no-1-nighthawks-soar-past-anderson