DAHLONEGA, GA – The University of North Georgia plated four runs only two hits in the first inning and the Nighthawks went on to claim a 5-2 win over Francis Marion University, Saturday afternoon (Feb. 20) in Peach Belt Conference baseball action.
 
The loss spoiled the Patriots' season opener and head coach Art Inabinet's 1000th game as the FMU head coach.  North Georgia improves to 6-1 overall and in the PBC.  The two teams will play a doubleheader on Sunday at noon to conclude the three-game weekend series.
 
Senior left-hander Weston Rogers (0-1) earned the season-opening start for FMU and he took the loss.  He allowed all five runs, but only one was earned.  Senior righty Bailey Wendel relieved Rogers in the fourth and tossed 4.2 scoreless innings, allowing only two hits and fanning five.
 
The Patriots took a 1-0 advantage in the top of the first when senior first baseman Leniel Gonzalez smashed a solo homer to left centerfield – his 12th career long ball wearing the red, white, and blue.  However, the Nighthawks responded in the bottom of the frame.  A one-out error helped lead to the four unearned runs. The first tally came home on a bases-loaded walk and the second on a wild pitch. UNG left fielder Brady Eeles capped the outburst with a two-run double.
 
The Nighthawks added an insurance run in the second on an RBI-double down the left field line by second baseman Bill LeRoy.
 
Francis Marion trimmed the margin to 5-2 in the sixth inning on a two-out solo homer to right by junior right fielder Will Hardee.  The Patriots threatened in the seventh when Gonzalez led off with a double and senior third baseman Todd Mattox was hit by a pitch.  However, junior right-hander Parker Morrison retired the next three FMU batters – two by strike out – to thwart the rally.
 
Morris (3-0) pitched a complete game with 13 strikeouts and no walks.
 
 
North Georgia 5, Francis Marion 2 (Feb 20, 2021 at Dahlonega, Ga.)
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Francis Marion...... 100 001 000  -  2  3  2      (0-1, 0-1 PBC)
North Georgia....... 410 000 00X  -  5  8  0      (6-1, 6-1 PBC)
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Pitchers: Francis Marion - Weston Rogers; Bailey Wendel(4) and Daulton Dabbs. North Georgia - P. Morrison and A. Perez.
Win-P. Morrison(3-0)  Loss-Weston Rogers(0-1)  T-2:10  A-208
HR FMU - Will Hardee; Leniel Gonzalez.
Weather: Sunny, 53, Wind E 10 mph