Related: Baseball Topples Top-Ranked North Georgia In Series Opener
PEMBROKE – The UNC Pembroke baseball team went punch-for-punch with top-ranked and Peach Belt Conference-leading North Georgia for more than four hours, but a seven-run seventh inning proved to be the difference as the Nighthawks evened up their weekend series with the Braves on the shoulders of a 16-10 win on Saturday at Sammy Cox Field.
The marathon contest saw 395 pitches, 34 hits and 26 runs scored, but the teams also combined to strand 25 runners on the base paths as well. The setback snapped a three-game win streak for the Braves (19-10, 4-7 PBC), while North Georgia (22-5, 9-2) has now captured 16 of its last 18 contests. The Nighthawks had an 11-game win streak snapped with a 10-6 loss to the Black & Gold in Friday's series opener.
Saturday's contest was the longest (4 hours, 7 minutes) regulation game since a 4-hour and 20-minute affair at Anderson on Feb. 6, 2010. It is the longest game for UNCP since an 11-10 extra-inning (13) triumph over Montevallo in the front half of a series-opening doubleheader on Feb. 22, 2014. That game spanned 4 hours and 38 minutes.
Ten different players registered base hits for UNCP on Saturday, including
Jarratt Mobley who continued a torrid weekend at the plate with a 4-for-5 hitting line.
Ethan Baucom hit his third home run in five days and scored three times to highlight a 2-for-5 showing at the dish.
Nine different players tallied base hits for the Nighthawks, including 3-for-4 outings from both Michael Gouge and Bill Leroy.
Starter
Matt Fuhr (3-3) took the loss for the hosts after yielding three earned runs on four hits and five walks in 2-1/3 innings from the hill. Gabe Moore (2-0), the last of three relievers on the day for the visitors, was awarded the win after working hitless eighth and ninth frames.
North Georgia carried an 8-4 advantage into the seventh inning, but utilized six hits, one error and a pair of costly wild pitches to plate seven more runs and forge a 15-4 lead. The Braves scored six runs on seven hits in the bottom of the frame, but could not get any closer.
The rubber game of the series will be played on Sunday at Sammy Cox Field. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.
Kyle Boraski (1-2, 6.83 ERA) is scheduled to get the start on the bump against North Georgia right-hander and reigning PBC Pitcher of the Week honoree Dylan Peppers (2-1, 5.14).
