DAHLONEGA, GA. – For the second straight game, the University of North Georgia got the best of Columbus State baseball in Peach Belt Conference action, winning 16-7 in just seven innings from Bob Stein Stadium.
Columbus State is now 23-15 overall with a 15-8 record in the PBC, while North Georgia - ranked 13th in the latest NCBWA Poll - improves to 33-10 on the year with a 24-2 conference mark.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- After senior Cayden Evans drove in the game's first run with a sac fly in the top of the first inning, North Georgia responded with six runs on six hits in the bottom of the frame to build an early 6-1 lead.
- North Georgia scored again in the second inning before adding eight more runs across innings three through five.
- The Cougars scored once in the third via an RBI double from junior Cole Eison and once more in the fourth on an RBI single from senior Michael Cruz as the Nighthawks built a 15-3 lead with just two innings to play.
- In the seventh inning, Cruz hit a one-out triple to right field before fellow senior Landen Jensen belted his second home run of the year over the left field fence to cut into the UNG lead.
- Yoxtheimer followed suit just two batters later with a solo home run to right center, his third long ball of the year, to score CSU's final run of the game.
- UNG added the deciding run in the bottom of the seventh to enforce the run rule and end the game.
NOTES
- Yoxtheimer's power was on display Saturday afternoon as the Phenix City, Alabama native finished 3-for-4 with two doubles and a home run to go along with three runs scored and an RBI.
- Jensen had two RBI of his own in the game, while Cruz was 2-for-3 with a triple and an RBI.
- Freshman left-hander Trey Farr was the most efficient arm for Columbus State, allowing just one run on four hits with a strikeout in 1.1 innings on the mound in his third career appearance out of the bullpen.
UP NEXT
Columbus State and North Georgia conclude the weekend with the series finale tomorrow afternoon at 1:00 p.m.
