SCHEDULE UPDATE: The doubleheader scheduled for Saturday, March 21, between West Florida and West Georgia will begin at 1 p.m. ET.
 
CARROLTON, Ga. – The West Florida baseball team lost a two-run, ninth-inning lead before losing the first game of its series at No. 28 West Georgia 5-4 in extra innings Friday evening at Cole Field in Carrolton, Ga.
 
UWF led 4-2 heading into the bottom of the ninth, but UWG tied the game 4-4 on a pair of hits and a sac fly before winning on a walk-off RBI-single in the bottom of the tenth.
 
"We played a good game for eight innings," UWF coach Mike Jeffcoat said. "When you have a four run lead on the road, you've got to hold that. We made a few mental mistakes where were could've increased the lead, but give West Georgia credit. They did a great job staying with it. We'll keep fighting to try to get a victory tomorrow."
 
Freshman Nick Kerkmann (Oviedo, Fla./Hagerty HS) hit the first home run of his career and went 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs. Kyle Hamner (Maitland, Fla./Edgewater HS) went 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
 
Kerkmann drove in the game's first run with an RBI-double in the second inning. Hamner followed him with a two-run single to give UWF a 3-0 lead. Kerkmann added insurance with the first home run of his career, a solo shot in the top of the fourth to put UWF up 4-0. The Wolves scored runs in the fourth and sixth to cut the lead to 4-2.
 
Brandon Nagem (Pensacola, Fla./Pine Forest HS) pitched eight innings of two-run ball, but he faltered in the ninth as UWG rallied to tie the game 4-4 and send it to extras.
 
Ronnie May (Apopka, Fla./Apopka HS) was credited with the loss in relief.
 
UWF and UWG will conclude the series with a doubleheader Saturday, March 21, at 1 p.m. ET. Stay up-to-date with the latest schedule information on the UWF Athletics social media channels on Facebook (Facebook.com/GoArgos) and Twitter (@GoArgos).
 
For information on all UWF athletics, visit www.GoArgos.com.