DAHLONEGA -- No. 14 University of North Georgia (UNG) baseball junior center fielder Andrews Opata has been named as the Chick-fil-A Nighthawk of the Week after helping UNG to a 3-1 record over four games last week.

Opata's standout performance started in one of the biggest non-conference matchup of the season as the center fielder went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run to help the Nighthawks take down No. 9 North Greenville 4-2 on Tuesday.

The Lawrenceville, Ga. native continued off that outing with a stellar weekend series on the road at Georgia College (GCSU). 

In the opener against the Bobcats, Opata homered in the first at bat of the series. His solo shot and 11th diner of the year opened the floodgates for a 15-7 win for UNG in the game as "Drews" went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and three RBIs. 

In the series finale, the Nighthawks needed a win to secure the 2025 Peach Belt Conference Regular-season Championship. Opata helped them do just that with a lead-off single in the first inning. He then stole second base and scored on a single from junior shortstop Jace Bowen to put UNG ahead 1-0 early. 

In a low-scoring game, Opata added the final run for the Nighthawks in a very similar situation in the eighth inning. This time with two outs in the frame, he laced another single back up the middle before stealing his conference-leading 33rd bag of the year. After another seeing-eye single from Bowen, Opata sprinted home and dove in head first to beat the throw and add a crucial insurance run in UNG's 3-0 victory to seal the program's first regular season title since 2019.

In total, Opata went 7-for-17 at the plate with two home runs, six runs scored and five RBIs.

He and the Nighthawks will begin postseason play this weekend as UNG earned the top seed and hosting rights for the 2025 PBC Baseball Tournament. First pitch in the quarterfinals against eighth-seeded Augusta is set for 11 a.m. from Bob Stein Stadium at Lynn Cottrell Park.

The Nighthawk of the Week title sponsor is Chick-fil-A of Dahlonega, with each week's winner being treated to a complimentary combo meal at the Dahlonega restaurant. Located at 488 Morrison Moore Parkway East, Chick-fil-A loves to give back to the local area and is proud to be a community partner with UNG Athletics.

Beginning in the fall of 2014, the UNG athletic department began honoring one student-athlete each Monday morning as the Nighthawk of the Week. The award is chosen each Sunday evening by an award selection committee made up of members of the UNG athletics administrative staff.