Nighthawks Can't Get Past GCSU's Glanton, Fall 6-1 Against Bobcats
DAHLONEGA – The University of North Georgia baseball team suffered a 6-1 loss at the hands of Georgia College at Bob Stein Stadium at Lynn Cottrell Park Friday night. The loss dashed the Nighthawks' hopes of hosting part of the Peach Belt Conference Tournament next weekend, as a sweep of the Bobcats was needed to secure second place and hosting rights in the league.
It was a complete game from sophomore pitcher John Luke Glanton that led to UNG's demise Friday. Glanton, who led the conference in complete games and wins entering the contest, tallied one more number in each of those categories against the Nighthawks.
He went a complete nine innings for the second time in a row, allowing just one run on eight hits. Glanton walked just one batter in the outing and struck out six in his eighth win of the year.
The Bobcats gave their starter some early run support in the first inning. After a single and a double started the frame, right fielder Brandon Bellflower brought a run home on a sacrifice fly. Another run was scored on a two out single from left fielder Evan Cowan to make it 2-0 after one inning.
As UNG failed to get more than two runners on base in a single inning, GCSU added to its lead in the fifth on a solo home run from first baseman Braeden Smith.
The Bobcats added another run in the sixth against Nighthawk junior starter Dylan Noce.
Then, head coach Tom Cantrell called on freshman right-handed reliever Andrew Cedano to steady things in the seventh.
While Cedano pitched well in the outing with four strikeouts over three innings, catcher Rand Bestermann got the better of him with two home runs. Both long balls were solo shots as he hit one in the seventh inning and another in the ninth.
With a 6-0 deficit, UNG needed a major comeback in the bottom of the ninth.
The Nighthawks made things interesting as sophomore second baseman Brady Skipper and junior shortstop Riley Frost led off the inning with back-to-back singles. Two batters later, freshman third baseman Kyle Robitzsch brought home UNG's lone run of the night on a ground out.
The game ended as junior outfielder Josh Sosa lined out at third base for the final out.
With the loss, the Nighthawks fell to 31-16 overall and 13-9 in conference play, while GCSU moved to 27-19 and 17-8 against the PBC.
Despite missing out on the sweep, the Nighthawks have a chance to win the series over the weekend with the final two games of the regular season. The program will celebrate Senior Day tomorrow, Saturday, Apr. 27 before its 2 p.m. showdown with the Bobcats. The series concludes Sunday, Apr. 28 at 1 p.m. from Bob Stein Stadium.
Latest Top Stories Feed
- No. 8 Nighthawks Race Past No. 22 Lenoir-Rhyne To Open Super Regional SeriesDAHLONEGA – The No. 8 University of North Georgia softball team took a 1-0 series lead in the 2024 NCAA Southeast Super Regional after an 11-3, five inning win over No. 22 Lenoir-Rhyne at Haines & Carolyn Hill Stadium at Lynn Cottrell Park Tuesday afternoon.
- No. 10 Nighthawks End Season In Southeast RegionalsAUBURN, Ala. – The No. 10 University of North Georgia men's tennis team saw its 2024 season come to an end at the hands of No. 6 Columbus State in the finals of the Southeast Region #2 Tournament Tuesday afternoon.
- D2CCA Names Denton Southeast Region Pitcher Of The Year, Four Other Players Named All-RegionDAHLONEGA – Five players for the No. 8 University of North Georgia softball team were named to the Division II Conference Commissioners Association Tuesday morning, as announced by the association. UNG hauled in the most all-region selections of any school in the Southeast with its five selections this morning.
- No. 10 Nighthawks Take Down Augusta 4-0 To Open 2024 Southeast RegionalsAUBURN, Ala. – The No. 10 University of North Georgia men's tennis team advanced to the second round of the 2024 NCAA Men's Tennis Tournament Monday afternoon after a 4-0 win over sixth-seeded Augusta in the opening round.
- No. 8 Nighthawks Ready To Host 2024 NCAA Southeast Super Regionals Against Lenoir-RhyneDAHLONEGA — The No. 8 University of North Georgia softball team rallied in the 2024 NCAA Southeast Regional Tournament last weekend to make its return to the Super Regionals. After fourth-seeded Lenoir-Rhyne took down top-seeded Wingate, the second-seeded Nighthawks stand as the highest remaining seed and will host a three-game series against the Bears Tuesday, May 14 and Wednesday, May 15 at Haines & Carolyn Hill Stadium at Lynn Cottrell Park.
- No. 10 Nighthawks Set To Begin In 2024 NCAA Southeast RegionalsDAHLONEGA -- The No. 10 University of North Georgia men's tennis team is ready to take part in the 2024 NCAA Men's Tennis Southeast Regional Tournament today. As the third-seed in the region, the Nighthawks have traveled to Columbus, Ga. where they'll face sixth-seeded Augusta at 3 p.m.