YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. | The University of North Georgia used an 11-run sixth inning to break open a tight game as the fifth-ranked Nighthawks clipped their cross-mountain rival Young Harris College 13-1 in a Peach Belt Conference baseball game Friday (April 7) evening at Zell B. Miller Field.

The Nighthawks improved to 27-7 overall and to 12-4 in the Peach Belt, while the Mountain Lions fell to 12-21 and 5-11. The two teams play the middle game of their three-game series at 3 p.m. Saturday (April 8).

With North Georgia holding a 2-1 lead after five innings, the Nighthawks took control of the game in the sixth as they sent 16 batters to the plate. North Georgia only had five hits in the decisive inning, but scored seven runs off walks or hit batters with the bases loaded.

Young Harris scored its lone run in the fourth when a grounder by Luke Miller scored Odom, who led off the inning with a single through the right side. Odom had two of the four hits the Mountain Lions recorded. Nick Sexton and Zach Wall accounted for the other two hits. 

Conor Casey (1-2) took the loss for the Mountain Lions, surrendering three runs on nine hits and three strikeouts over five innings. Steve Bower, who threw a no-hitter in his last start for the Nighthawks, allowed just two hits and struck out five in seven innings.