2/24/18

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – A four-run first inning got the No. 23 University of North Georgia baseball team out in front early, but three big innings for the home team did the Nighthawks in as they fell to Flagler, 12-7, Friday night at FC’s Drysdale Field.

After three walks to lead off the game, Andres Perez got UNG on the board with a grand slam to left field, scoring Chase Sudduth, Steven Tomlinson and Nick Clarno to put North Georgia up early. Flagler responded, though, and cut the lead to one in the third by virtue of a RBI single, double and sacrifice fly.

The Nighthawks answered in the top of the fourth with a Tomlinson RBI single to plate Sudduth, making the score 5-3, but the Saints answered again with a five-spot in the fourth, anchored by a three-run homer from Jason Moore to give Flagler a lead they would never relinquish.

North Georgia’s final two runs came by being walked in during the sixth inning, cutting the lead at the time to 8-7. Flagler got some much needed insurance runs in the seventh, plating four more runs off three RBI singles to bring the game to its final score.

NOTES
– Cade Heil (1-2) was tabbed with the loss after a 3.1 inning outing. Flagler’s Kyle Hansen (1-0) earned the win in relief, while FC’s Ethan Jones earned the four-inning save.

– Sudduth led the way at the plate, going 3-for-5 with three runs scored. Aside from the junior, no other Nighthawk had a multi-hit game.

– The Nighthawks have lost the past two conference openers after winning four straight from 2013-16.

NEXT UP
North Georgia will look to knot up the series with a 2 p.m. first pitch at Drysdale Field.
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