CLINTON, Miss. – The University of North Georgia (UNG) baseball suffered a close 3-2 loss in the first of a three-game road series at Mississippi College (MC) on Friday afternoon.

The Nighthawks fell to 2-3 on the season with the loss while the Choctaws improved to 2-2.

The game started well for UNG with graduate left-handed pitcher Pierce Williams starting on the mound. Williams held MC scoreless through the first six innings allowing just five hits. He conceded no walks and struck out six batters in the six-inning outing. 

Williams has now made two starts this season and still has yet to allow a run. In total he's pitched 11.0 innings with five hits, two walks and 13 strikeouts. 

When Williams left the game after the sixth inning, he departed with a 1-0 Nighthawk lead thanks to a solo home run from senior catcher Bryson Stripling in the top of the sixth inning.

UNG padded its lead by another run in the seventh as junior second baseman Brady Skipper scored on a sacrifice fly from junior right fielder Edwin Bowman IV.

The Choctaws would cut the Nighthawks' 2-0 lead in half with a two-out, RBI single from Bryce LaRocca.

Still UNG held a one-run advantage heading into the ninth inning. 

With one out, MC's Logan Shurden walked to put the tying run on base. Shurden moved into scoring position on a single in the next at bat. The Choctaws then loaded the bases as LaRocca was hit by a pitch. 

With the bases loaded, a double play would end the game with a Nighthawk win but a single would likely win it in walk off fashion for MC. JT Vance won the game for the Choctaws as he singled through the left side to score Shurden and Jordan Evans. 

UNG will look to even the series at one game a piece tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 8 as they rematch against MC in the second game of the series. First pitch in Clinton, Miss. is slated for 3 p.m.