AUGUSTA, Ga. – The No. 30 University of North Georgia (UNG) baseball team blasted 14 hits in a 16-5 mercy-rule victory at Augusta on Friday night.

The Nighthawks (22-9, 11-2 Peach Belt) have now won 11 of their last 13 games. The victory over the Jaguars (8-24, 5-8 Peach Belt) marks UNG's fifth run-rule win already this season. 

Despite allowing five runs and three walks, graduate left-handed starter Pierce Williams pitched a complete seven-innings in the explosive offensive game. He allowed just seven hits and struck out five batters in his fifth win of the season.

UNG ambushed the Jaguars with six runs in the first inning. The Nighthawks recorded five hits in the inning, all of which came with an RBI to take a 6-0 lead.

Three more runs came across in the second inning thanks to a sacrifice fly from senior third baseman Riley Frost and a two-run triple from senior outfielder Jorge Arispuro. 

After Augusta added its first run of the game in the third inning, the Nighthawks tacked on another five runs in the fifth. 

The only RBI knock in the fifth inning came from junior outfielder Andrews Opata to make it 10-1. The other four runs came after UNG loaded the bases and benefited from a subsequent walk, groundout and two wild pitches to make it 14-1.

Another run came across in the sixth inning behind an RBI double from freshman infielder Jake Prince. The rookie infielder finished the game as one of three Nighthawk hitters with multiple RBI in the contest.

The others were redshirt freshman Nicholas Stinson who went 1-for-3 with two walks, two runs scored and two RBI and Arispuro who finished 2-for-4 with a game-high three RBI.

UNG scored 16 runs without a home run for the team that entered the contest ranked third in the league in long balls. Friday marked the most runs in a game this season without a homer for the Nighthawks.

UNG will now attempt to take the series from the Jaguars in a 2 p.m. showdown back in Augusta, Ga. tomorrow, Saturday, March 29.