FLORENCE, SC – The University of North Georgia scored four runs in the seventh inning without recording a base hit and that inning proved crucial as the Nighthawks downed Francis Marion University 7-3, Friday evening (March 30) in Peach Belt Conference baseball action.

The two squads will continue their three-game series on Saturday with a 2 p.m. contest, followed by a 1 p.m. Youth Day game on Sunday.  All area youth wearing their uniform will be admitted free for the series finale.

Francis Marion (12-21, 5-14) outhit the Nighthawks (16-12, 9-7) 10-7, but stranded eight runners on base.

Junior right fielder Cole Hinnant led the Patriots with three hits, a run scored, and an RBI, while both junior left fielder Gage Taylor and junior designated hitter Alex Griffith each rapped out two hits.  Taylor extended his hitting streak to 17 games.

FMU sophomore right-hander Sam High (1-2) took the loss. He allowed only three runs on six hits in six innings, while striking out six.

North Georgia freshman righty Cade Heil (4-4) evened his season record by pitching seven innings and surrendering only two runs on eight hits, while fanning nine Patriots.

FMU took a 1-0 advantage in the second inning when senior first baseman Trey Chapman drilled a lead-off double into the right field corner. He moved to third on a fly out and scored on an RBI-ground out by junior third baseman Steven Cox.

A pair of solo home runs – Conner Corbitt in the fourth and Jake Arnold in the fifth – gave UNG the lead for good.  A single run in the sixth upped the margin to 3-1.  In the fateful seventh, the Nighthawks parlayed three walks, a hit batter, a passed ball, a balk, and a throwing error into four runs to assume a 7-1 lead.

The Patriots scored once in the seventh on a UNG throwing error and once in the eighth on an RBI triple to right center field by Hinnant.

Corbitt had three of the Nighthawks' seven hits and drove in two runs.

U. of North Georgia 7, Francis Marion Univ. 3 (Mar 30, 2018 at Florence, SC)
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U. of North Georgia. 000 111 400  -  7  7  1      (16-12, 9-7 PBC)
Francis Marion Univ. 010 000 110  -  3 10  1      (12-21, 5-14 PBC)
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Pitchers: U. of North Georgia - Cade Heil; Jack Fleming(8) and Andres Perez.
Francis Marion Univ. - Sam High; Garrett Wilson(7); Will Taks(7); John-Riley Hathcock(8);
Adam Hornstra(9) and William Robbins.
Win-Cade Heil(4-4)  Loss-Sam High(1-2)  T-2:55  A-501
HR UNG - Conner Corbitt (9); Jake Arnold (3).
Weather: Overcast,69,Winds W @ 10 mph
Taks faced 2 batters in the 8th.