No. 16 UNG Clipped By Emmanuel In Midweek Contest
DAHLONEGA – The No. 16 University of North Georgia (UNG) baseball team dropped a midweek non-conference game to Emmanuel in an 11-6 loss at Bob Stein Stadium at Lynn Cottrell Park on Tuesday.
The Nighthawks (30-12, 18-3 Peach Belt) were significantly shorthanded by injuries both on the mound and at the plate in their matchup with the Lions (21-22, 10-14 Conference Carolinas).
Emmanuel jumped out to an early lead by scoring a pair of runs in the second inning.
UNG struggled to keep the base paths empty in the game. The Nighthawk pitchers only walked five batters in the game, but all five of those free passes came in the first four innings and helped the Lions build an 8-1 advantage by the fourth inning.
UNG had its first multi-run inning in the bottom of the fourth however as a two-run double from junior center fielder Andrews Opata and an Emmanuel balk plated three Nighthawk runs to make it 8-4.
The team moved one step closer to a comeback when sophomore left fielder Kyle Robitzsch lifted his second home run of the season over the left field wall to make it 8-5.
UNG stayed within arms reach at a three-run deficit for the next three innings until a critical three-run homer in the eighth inning from Emmanuel's Hayden Beall secured the victory.
The Nighthawks would get one more run in the home half of the frame on another base knock from Opata. The center field had a very strong day individually going 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a walk.
UNG now prepares for its final home series of the regular season when it takes on USC Aiken for a three-game set that begins on Thursday, April 17 at 6 p.m. Before the series finale on Saturday, April 18, the Nighthawks will honor the 2025 class during their Senior Day festivities prior to first pitch.
Latest Men's Baseball Stories Feed
- Six UNG Baseball Players Named To 2025 PBC Team of Academic DistinctionDAHLONEGA – The Peach Belt Conference announced its baseball Team of Academic Distinction for the 2024-25 academic year Friday. The University of North Georgia had six student-athletes named to the team.
- Nolan Belcher Named UNG Head Baseball CoachDAHLONEGA - The University of North Georgia (UNG) has announced Nolan Belcher as the next head baseball coach, ushering in a new chapter in a proud tradition that spans generations. While Belcher becomes just the second head coach since the reinstatement of baseball on campus, he now leads a program whose legacy began at North Georgia College and continues today at the Peach Belt Conference and NCAA Division II levels. Following a national search, Belcher has signed a multi-year contract to lead the Nighthawks into a new era of excellence.
- Opata, Ard & Earnhardt Named To ABCA All-Region TeamsDAHLONEGA – University of North Georgia (UNG) baseball junior center fielder Andrews Opata, redshirt junior first baseman Phillip Ard and sophomore starting pitcher Luke Earnhardt were named to the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Southeast All-Region Teams Wednesday morning.
- Opata Named D2CCA Third Team All-AmericanDAHLONEGA – University of North Georgia (UNG) baseball junior center fielder Andrews Opata was named a Division 2 Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) Third Team All-American per the association's announcement Wednesday morning.
- Ard, Opata Named To D2CCA Southeast All-Region TeamsDAHLONEGA – The No. 22 University of North Georgia (UNG) baseball team had two players named to the Division 2 Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) Southeast All-Region Teams per the association's announcement Friday.
- No. 22 UNG's Historic Season Comes To Halt In 2025 NCAA Southeast RegionalBELMONT, N.C. – All good things must come to an end.