MONTEVALLO, Ala. – University of North Georgia junior Tremayne Toorie blasted a two-run homer over the wall in left field with two outs in the top of the 12th inning to lift the Nighthawks to a 9-8 win over the Falcons in the final game of a Peach Belt Conference series April 20 at Kermit A. Johnson Field.
The Falcons (26-18 overall, 12-14 in Peach Belt Conference) took two of three games against the Nighthawks in the weekend series.
Junior Matthew Haskins led the Falcons offensively as he finished 4-for-8 at the plate with a double. Haskins drove in two runs and scored one run.
Freshman Dane Hutcheon, who drove in one run and scored one run, went 4-for-6 at the dish with a double. Senior Will Fulmer, who drove in one run and scored one run, finished 2-for-4 at the plate.
Senior Jackson Slaid finished 1-for-6 at the plate and drove in two runs. Freshman Alex Jones went 1-for-5 at the plate and drove in one run. Sophomore Thomas Bradey finished 1-for-3 at the plate and scored one run.
Sophomore Chase Bryant went 1-for-1 at the plate and scored one run. Junior Vinny Rodriguez, sophomore Jeremy Hyde and freshman Scotty Smith scored one run each, while sophomore Michael Simmons drove in one run.
Sophomore closer Aron McRee (3-1) suffered his first loss of the season after allowing two earned runs on two hits with two strikeouts and three walks in 3 2/3 innings in relief. Senior starter Alex Guilford allowed three earned runs on eight hits with five strikeouts in five innings.
Freshman Tanner Koch allowed two unearned runs on three hits in one inning in relief, while senior Edward Brandsema gave up two earned runs on three hits with one strikeout and one walk in 2 1/3 innings.
The Falcons took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Smith led off the frame with a walk and stole second base before advancing to third base on a single to right field by Fulmer and scoring on a RBI fielder's choice hit by Slaid.
North Georgia tied the game with one run in the top of the second inning. Ryan Raper led off the inning with a single to right field and advanced to second base on an infield single by Beau Welborn before stealing third base and scoring on a RBI single by Nick Vinson that bounced off Guilford's leg.
Montevallo took a 2-1 lead after plating one run in the bottom half of the frame. Hyde, who led off the frame with a walk, advanced to second base on an infield single by Hutcheon and moved to third base when Smith reached on a walk before scoring on a RBI single to right field by Fulmer.
The Nighthawks scored two runs in the top of the third inning to take a 3-2 lead.
Travis Naraine led off the inning with a single to left field and scored on a RBI double to left-center field by Tremayne Toorie. Toorie advanced to third base on a flyout by Eason Spivey before scoring on a RBI single to left field by Andrew Gordon.
The Falcons plated three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, which gave Montevallo a 5-3 advantage.
Bradey led off the frame with a single through the left side of the infield before Hutcheon reached on a walk. The runners moved up on a double steal before scoring on a two-run double to right-center field by Haskins. Fulmer, who reached on a walk, advanced to third base on the double before scoring on a RBI single through the left side of the infield by Jones.
North Georgia plated two runs in the top of the sixth inning to tie the game at 5-5.
Cameron Crawford doubled to left field to start the two-out rally before advancing to third base on a fielding error by the Falcons. Crawford scored on a RBI single by Joey Cecere and Vinson, who reached on the error, advanced to second base on the single before scoring on a RBI single up the middle by Naraine.
Montevallo scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, giving the Falcons a 7-5 lead.
Haskins, who singled through the left side of the infield in the frame, stole second base before scoring on a RBI single through the right side of the infield by Slaid. Rodriguez, who reached on a walk, advanced to second base on the single before scoring when North Georgia reliever Christian Turnipseed issued back-to-back walks, including a free pass to Simmons with the bases loaded.
The Nighthawks responded with two runs in the top of the seventh inning, tying the game at 7-7.
Raper, who reached on a walk, advanced to third base on a single to left field by Andrew Gordon before scoring on a wild pitch by Brandsema. Gordon, who moved to third base on the wild pitch, scored on a RBI bunt single by Crawford to tie the game.
The Falcons left the bases loaded in both the 10th and 11th innings before a two-run homer by Toorie in the top of the 12th inning gave the Nighthawks a 9-7 lead.
Bryant led off the bottom half of the frame with a single to right-center field before scoring on a RBI double to left field by Hutcheon. Marshall and Fulmer, who reached on a walk, were stranded on base with Hutcheon when Haskins struck out with two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the 12th inning to end the game.
Montevallo will return to action Wednesday, April 23 with a non-conference contest against West Alabama.
First pitch at Kermit A. Johnson Field is set for 5 p.m.
