DAHLONEGA, Ga. – No. 22 (
Collegiate Baseball Division II Top 25) University of North Georgia pounded out 27 hits and scored 31 runs in a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader sweep of Flagler College Friday afternoon at Bob Stein Stadium. North Georgia won the opener 18-8 and took the second game 13-2.
North Georgia improved to 17-7 overall and 17-6 in the Peach Belt. The Nighthawks also improved to 13-1 at home. Flagler fell to 6-16 overall and 5-11 in conference play.
In the opener, the Saints took an early lead thanks to an RBI double from
Adam Mitchell and he scored on
Jaiden Warde's single, all in the first inning.
But the Nighthawks erupted for 10 runs on five hits in the second inning. Andres Perez hit a three-run home run to give North Georgia a 5-2 lead. Jake Howard and Jake Arnold both hit two-run home runs in the frame.
That was all of the support Cade Heil (6-0) needed as he tossed five-plus innings and allowed five runs on seven hits.
Arnold led the 14-hit attack with a double, a home run, he scored three runs, and he had three runs batted in. Crews Taylor went 2-for-5 with a double and three RBI. Nik Levensteins went 2-for-4 with a home run, scored two runs, and drove in three.
Nathan Henderson (0-1) took the loss after hurling one-plus innings. He allowed four runs on one hit and walked five batters.
Warde went 3-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored, and he knocked in two more. Mitchell hit a single, a double, scored two runs, and had one RBI.
Ashton Thomas hit a two-run single in the seventh.
In game two, Will Hardigree led off the second inning with an infield single, went to second on another infield hit, and took third on a wild pitch. Two batters later, he scored on Tim Conway's sacrifice fly in foul territory in right field to break a 2-2 tie.
North Georgia erupted for eight runs on five hits in the sixth to break open a 5-2 game. Bill LeRoy belted a three-run home run and Levensteins added a two-run shot.
Maddex Richardson (2-2) picked up the win as he allowed two runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings. Pierce Williams picked up the save as he did not allow a run or a hit in his 1 2/3 innings of work.
LeRoy led the 13-hit attack by going 2-for-3 with the home run and four RBI. Conway went 2-for-2 with a double, scored three runs, and had one RBI.
Colt Mink (2-4) surrendered seven earned runs and 10 hits in 5 1/3 innings of work for Flagler.
Thomas singled twice and scored a run.
The same two teams meet tomorrow at noon for the third game in the series.
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