Thomasville, N.C.----The third-seeded Nighthawks of North Georgia University scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning Saturday afternoon, rallying for a 3-2 victory over fifth-seeded Wingate University on day three of the 2015 NCAA Southeast Regional baseball tournament at Finch Field. North Georgia improves to 37-16 overall, advancing to take on Mount Olive Saturday night in another elimination game at 7 p.m. Wingate sees its season come to an end, finishing the year 33-26 overall.

The Bulldogs won their first SAC Tournament title since 2011 this season, going on an incredible run that included six consecutive wins in elimination games. Wingate made its first NCAA Tournament appearance since the 2011 season, and only its second since 2000. The Bulldogs picked up their first NCAA Tournament win since 1995.

Connor Hoover was two-for-four with three RBI to lead the North Georgia attack. Steven Tomlinson had two hits and a run scored, while Devin Gearhart scored twice for the Nighthawks.

Senior shortstop Michael Godinez (Cutler Bay, Fla.) was two-for-four with two RBI to lead the Wingate attack. Junior outfielder Bill Krebs (West Chester, Pa.) went two-for-three with a run scored, while senior infielder Blake Prince (Winter Park, Fla.) was one-for-two, drawing a pair of walks and scoring a run. Senior catcher Josh Clark (Clemmons, N.C.) also had a pair of hits for the Bulldogs.

Wingate looked to take a lead in the third, getting a walk and a double to put runners at second and third with one out. After a popout, a Godinez line drive was gloved by Gearhart at third base.

The Nighthawks got on the board in the bottom of the frame. Gearhart drew a leadoff walk, then moved to second on a sacrifice. He scored on an RBI single from Hoover.

Wingate tied the game with a run in the fifth. With two outs, Krebs started the rally with a single up the middle, then moved to second on a Billings single. Godinez followed with an RBI single to right, making it 1-1. Spitz followed with a towering drive to deep center, but North Georgia center fielder Tremayne Toorie climbed the hill in front of the wall, making the catch with his back to the plate to end the frame.

The Bulldogs took their first lead of the day in the top of the seventh. Prince drew a leadoff walk, then moved to second on a wild pitch. He would score on another two-out RBI single from Godinez, making it 2-1.

North Georgia had the answer in the bottom of the frame. Three consecutive singles through the left side loaded the bases with one out. Hoover then delivered a two-run single up the middle on the ninth pitch of the at-bat, giving the Nighthawks a 3-2 lead.

Prince led off the ninth with a single through the left side, then went to second on a Krebs sacrifice. Pinch runner Brandon Wolf (Charlotte, N.C.) moved to third on a groundout, but North Georgia reliever Chris Cobb induced a game-ending flyout for the Nighthawks.

Cobb got the win, moving to 6-0. He tossed 2 2/3 shutout innings, striking out one and walking one, allowing two hits. Redshirt freshman right-hander Hunter Hamilton (Troy, N.C.) took the loss, falling to 3-3. He allowed three runs on six hits in 6 1/3 innings, striking out three and walking two.