DAHLONEGA | The University of North Georgia baseball team fell to No. 9 Armstrong State, 2-1, Friday evening at Bob Stein Stadium. The Nighthawks are now 18-9 on the year with a 12-4 mark in Peach Belt play.
The Pirates (24-5, 13-2 PBC) got on the board first in the top of the sixth on a RBI fielder’s choice to second by Jerad Curry to score Tyler Avera from third. Curry just narrowly beat out the throw from second as the Nighthawks were attempting a 4-6-3 double play that would have ended the inning and kept Armstrong off the board.
North Georgia answered in the bottom frame of the inning though, as Steven Tomlinson came home to score on a throwing error from the ASU shortstop on what would have been a ground out to end the inning.
Armstrong State picked up the only earned run of the game on a pinch-hit RBI double to left by Berry Aldridge that scored Curry from second, giving the Pirates the lead, 2-1.
Neither starter factored in the decision, although both gave great performances on the mound. Brandon Agar went 6.2 innings for UNG allowing just one unearned run on four hits while striking out five.
Caleb Woods (3-0) earned the win in relief for Armstrong, allowing just one hit against the seven batters he faced. Tyler Graham picked up his ninth save of the season, pitching the final 1.1 innings.
Taylor Keinat (1-2) was tagged with the loss, giving up the games only earned run on a pair of hits in the 0.2 innings he worked.
The Nighthawks will look to even up the series Saturday. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.