PEMBROKE – The 25th-ranked UNC Pembroke baseball team erupted for five runs in the bottom of the fifth to break the game wide open, and then held off a ninth-inning rally by North Georgia on the way to a series-clinching 8-7 win over the Nighthawks on Monday afternoon at Sammy Cox Field.

Drew Beaver doubled and drove in two runs on a perfect 3-for-3 outing for the Braves (17-6, 6-6 PBC) who improved to 14-1 at home this season with the victory. Ben Schmucker doubled and drove in four runs on a 2-for-4 performance, while Drew Cole scored once on a 2-for-4 hitting line as well. Collins Cuthrell drew three walks and crossed the plate twice on a 1-for-1 day at the plate.

Sam Tidaback hit a 3-run homer in the ninth inning to highlight a 2-for-5 day for North Georgia (14-7, 9-3) who also got three hits from Joey Cecere (3-for-4).

Logan Cook (3-1) struck out four and scattered four hits and a trio of earned runs across four innings of relief to grab the win for the Braves, while Alex Britt recorded the last two outs of the contest to collect his third save of the season. Reliever Phillip Taylor (1-1) struck out two and allowed just two hits in two innings of work, but took the loss anyway after putting the go-ahead run aboard in the fifth.

Cole's RBI single in the bottom of the third inning gave UNCP an early 3-0 lead, but North Georgia rallied for two runs in the fourth, and then tied the score up on a one-out RBI single by Steven Tomlinson in the fifth. The Braves pounded out four hits and scored five times in the bottom of the frame to all but put the game away.

North Georgia chopped away at its deficit with a lone run in the sixth, and Tidaway's homer in the ninth brought the Nighthawks to within one score. Britt froze pinch hitter Taylor Jones on a called strike three to slam the door on the rally.

The Braves will close out a four-game home stand on Tuesday when they suit up to take on ninth-ranked Erskine (20-2) in a 3 p.m. contest at Sammy Cox Field.