Related: No. 1 North Georgia Evens Baseball Series With Marathon Win
PEMBROKE – The UNC Pembroke baseball team scored five times with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning to shake off a no-hit bid by reigning Peach Belt Conference Pitcher of the Week Dylan Peppers and fuel a 6-4 series-clinching victory over top-ranked North Georgia on Sunday afternoon at Sammy Cox Field.
It was the fourth win in the last five outings for the Braves (20-10, 5-7 PBC) who grabbed their first series victory over a top 5-ranked team since a series sweep of then-No. 4 North Florida early in the 2005 season. Sunday's setback was just the third loss in the last 19 outings for the Nighthawks (22-6, 9-3) who assumed the top spot in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Top 25 poll on Monday.
Jarrett Mobley (1-for-3) and
Nick Salisbury (1-for-3) both hit key two-run singles in the seventh to lead the way for the home team, while
Ethan Baucom walked twice and scored once on a 0-for-2 day at the plate. Michael Bell drove in three runs on a 3-for-5 hitting line for the visitors.
Kyle Boraski (2-2) struck out six and scattered eight hits over seven innings from the hill, surrendering just a bloop two-run single in the first on the way to winning his second-straight decision. Peppers (2-2) struck out five and did not allow a hit in 6-2/3 innings of work, but took the loss anyway after yielding three earned runs on four free passes.
North Georgia forged a 2-0 lead on three consecutive two-out singles in the top of the first, and that score would hold up until the home half of the seventh. Peppers beaned
Luke Jackson on a full-count delivery with two down in the seventh, and then walked the bases loaded on consecutive free passes to Baucom and
Drew Beaver.
Mobley broke up the no-hitter on a two-run single in the next at-bat, and Salisbury made it a 4-2 game with a single to centerfield as well.
Roberto Rivera's legged out an infield single two batters later that plated Salisbury from third base with the 5-2 advantage.
The Nighthawks would not go away quietly, however. Michael Bell hit a RBI double in the eighth and North Georgia pulled to within a single run thanks to a costly two-out error later in the inning, but the Braves pushed across an insurance run in the bottom of the frame on the shoulders of an ill-timed throwing error by UNG.
North Georgia had its chances again in the ninth when Ramsey beaned Trevor Sams to load up the bases with just one out showing, but the senior closer struck out Bell before inducing a game-ending groundout off of the bat of Bill Leroy.
The Black & Gold will close out an eight-game home stand on Tuesday when they suit up to take on Barton (21-12) in the front half of a home-and-home series at Sammy Cox Field. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m. and admission is $2 for all fans as part of UNCP's "$2 Tuesdays" at the ballpark.
