DAHLONEGA – The No. 16 University of North Georgia (UNG) baseball won the weekend series against USC Aiken with a 13-8 victory in game two of the weekend set at Bob Stein Stadium at Lynn Cottrell Park Friday afternoon.

The win over the Pacers (18-26, 8-15 Peach Belt) moves the Nighthawks to 31-12 on the season and 20-3 in Peach Belt Conference play. UNG now holds a 1.5-game lead over Lander and a two-game lead over Georgia College with four games remaining in conference play this season. 

Friday's victory came behind an offensive explosion in the first two innings for the Nighthawks.

Two singles and an RBI double from redshirt junior first baseman Phillip Ard gave UNG a 1-0 lead before recording an out in the first inning.

Even after the first out, the Nighthawks still added a run as redshirt freshman Nicholas Stinson lifted a sacrifice fly to center field.

Senior outfielder Jorge Arispuro later added a third run in the first frame with an RBI groundout.

The Nighthawks quickly built on their lead in the second inning thanks to an RBI single from junior shortstop Jace Bowen. After pulling ahead 4-0, sophomore left fielder Kyle Robitzsch walked with the bases loaded to bring in a fifth run.

Aiken added its first runs of the games in the fourth inning with a two-run double from Caden Usry. 

After adding an insurance run in the fifth inning, UNG broke the game wide open in the sixth.

A bunt with runners on first and third helped junior second baseman Brady Skipper tally his first RBI of the day to make it 7-2. 

Senior catcher Bryson Stripling then expanded the lead with a two-run double down the left field line. A sac fly from Bowen then gave the Nighthawks a 10-2 lead after six innings.

A passed ball put UNG in range of a mercy rule victory in the next frame as Robitzsch scored to make it 11-2. However, the Pacers avoided the run rule loss and then submitted a comeback bid in the eighth inning.

Redshirt sophomore starter and reigning PBC Pitcher of the Week Luke Earnhardt pitched spectacularly through the first seven innings. However, the eighth inning marked his 16th inning of work in the last six days as the weekend series with USC Aiken started a day in advance of usual to avoid playing on Easter Sunday. 

Fatigue caught up to Earnhardt in the eighth inning as the Pacers posted six hits and six runs before the lefty was ultimately pulled after tossing 7.2 innings. Earnhardt finished the game with no walks and six strikeouts.

After UNG's nine-run lead had been diminished to just a three-run advantage, redshirt sophomore relief pitcher Nathan Alexander took over on the mound. The right-hander ended the inning immediately with a strikeout. 

The Nighthawks then went back to work on offense, scoring two runs in the bottom of the inning. The first run came off the bat of Stinson with an RBI single. The second run came off the body of senior third baseman Riley Frost as he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. 

The RBI for Frost marked his only of the game on a day in which he dominated by going 3-for-4 at the plate with two doubles. Frost was joined by Bowen as the only Nighthawks with three hits in the game. Bowen went a perfect 3-for-3 with two runs scored, two RBI and two walks. 

Stinson had a pair of RBIs as he went 2-for-5. Batting behind Stinson was Robitzsch who recorded a 2-for-2 day with an RBI and a whopping four walks which is tied for the most in a game this season for any UNG hitter. 

With a bunt and a two run double, Stripling led the way in offensive production with three RBIs in the five-run victory.

Alexander ended the game in the ninth with a strikeout, elevating the Nighthawks to a 20-3 conference record on the year.

This season marks the fifth in program history in which UNG has won 20 or more conference games. It's just the third time they've done so as a member of the Peach Belt Conference. 

The Nighthawks can take a stranglehold on the conference standings on Sunday as they go for the sweep over the Pacers. UNG will celebrate Senior Day at Bob Stein Stadium before first pitch at 1 p.m.