ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – In game three of a road series that the University of North Georgia baseball team had already lost, the Nighthawks salvaged a win on Sunday to avoid a sweep with a 3-1 victory at Flagler. 

Redshirt sophomore first baseman Phillip Ard, who has been the leader in nearly every major hitting category for UNG this season, was the main contributor to the offensive output on Sunday for head coach Tom Cantrell's team.

Ard got the scoring started in the first inning with a sacrifice fly to bring home sophomore center fielder Andrews Opata. 

Maintaining a 1-0 lead until the fourth inning, the Nighthawks added a pair of runs in the frame to boost their advantage. 

Again, it was Ard who contributed on the scoreboard, this time bringing himself home on the first pitch of the inning with his ninth homer of the season. 

Junior shortstop Riley Frost followed Ard with a one out walk before freshman third baseman Kyle Robitzsch reached on an infield single. 

It was then junior outfielder Josh Sosa who placed a single into right field to bring home Frost and make it a 3-0 game.

From there, it was junior starter Daniel Courtney who held off the Saints, leading to the win. 

Courtney pitched six complete innings allowing just three hits and one run in the sixth inning. 

Taking over for Courtney in the seventh inning was redshirt junior lefty Pierce Williams.

Williams has been unavailable for UNG since March of last season due to injury. He pitched in his first game this year on Apr. 6 against Augusta. His outing against Flagler was just his third this season and perhaps his best. 

Out of the bullpen he threw three scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and no walks while striking out a season high five batters. The performance marked his most strikeouts since Mar. 3, 2023 as Williams earned just the second save of his career. 

With the win, the Nighthawks moved to 27-14 overall and 14-7 in PBC play. UNG currently sits in a tie for second place in the conference with Georgia College, who the Nighthawks will face in the final series of the regular season in a three-game series at Bob Stein Stadium beginning on Apr. 26. 

With six games left in league play in the regular season, UNG has USC Aiken and Georgia College still on the schedule. Lander, who swept the Nighthawks back in March, sits in first place in the conference after sweeping Georgia College over three games this past weekend. UNG trails Lander by just two games as the top five spots in the conference are separated by just three games. 

Before their next conference series, the Nighthawks have a midweek non-conference game on the docket, beginning with a Tuesday evening game against No. 11 Lee. 

UNG, who lost 15-5 at Lee back on Mar. 19, will look for revenge against the Flames at Bob Stein Stadium at Lynn Cottrell Park on Tuesday, Apr. 16 at 5 p.m.