DAHLONEGA, Ga. – No. 20 UWF baseball (27-14, 17-6 GSC) dropped another one-run game at North Georgia (25-15, 15-9 PBC) Wednesday, falling 3-2 in the series finale. Nick Kerkmann and Matthew Jones each went deep, but the Argo lineup was limited to five hits.
"I thought North Georgia's pitching did a fine job. They pitched well. There's no doubt about that. Can't take that away from them. We've just got to have more competitive at-bats," said UWF head coach Mike Jeffcoat of his team's performance at the plate.
Kirk Maddox (3-5) got the start for UWF and lasted into the sixth. He surrendered two runs (two earned) on four hits while striking out four and walking three. After three scoreless innings, the Nighthawks were able to tag him for two runs in the fourth on RBIs by Bill LeRoy and Steven Tomlinson.
"Well the big thing is, he got into the fourth inning without giving up a run," said Jeffcoat. "If we could get that out of him on a consistent basis, we'd give our team a chance to win."
UWF was unable to get to UNG starter Dallas Deavers (2-1), who spun six scoreless innings while limiting the Argo bats to just three hits. In the seventh, Kerkmann broke through vs. relief man Kyle Luigs, launching his fourth home run of the season to trim the deficit to 2-1.
Josh Pahlad entered in relief for UWF after Maddox walked the first two batters he faced in the sixth. Pahlad left both in scoring position before firing a scoreless seventh. He recorded the first two outs of the eighth before allowing a walk, a hit by pitch and an RBI base hit by LeRoy that took the UNG lead back to two.
"Fortunately Josh Pahlad came in and did a great job in relief," said Jeffcoat. "Just walked a guy there and hit a guy and gave up a two-out hit that ultimately proved to be the game-winner."
Avery Geyer left the bases loaded in the eighth behind Pahlad.
"With Knight down, he's got to be the closer," said Jeffcoat of Geyer, who threw 2.1 scoreless, hitless innings in the series. "We're hoping we can get him a lead here and get him the ball."
Jones hit his second home run of the series (seventh of the season) in the ninth vs. closer Jack Fleming, but the Argos could get no closer than 3-2. Fleming's save was his first of the season.
"It's good to get the home run. We just need to have some people on in front," said Jeffcoat. "The solo shots don't help you much from behind unless you're in a one-run game."
UWF hit into a season-high four double plays, including one in the ninth before the Jones home run. West Florida was once again without veteran bats Robert Lopez and Nic Strasser due to injury. The Argos have now dropped three straight games for the first time since Feb. 13-17, when the team dropped games vs. Columbus State, then-No. 2 Tampa and Palm Beach Atlantic.
UWF baseball will next travel to Montevallo for a three-game series starting Friday at 6:00 p.m.
"They're going to be a good club, tough to beat up there. I've heard they've got three good starting pitchers," said Jeffcoat of the upcoming GSC series vs. the Falcons. "Scrappy ballclub, put-the-ball-in-play-type team. We're going to have our work cut out for us, especially reeling from three straight losses."
For the latest information on the Argos, follow the team on Twitter @UWF_Baseball.
#ARGOS#
