BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The No. 4 Birmingham-Southern baseball team defeated North Park University 8-2 in game one of the series on Friday night, improving to 5-1 overall this season.

The Panthers were buoyed by strong starting pitching and a big fifth inning at the plate in the win, the first home win of the season for the team.

A solo home run by sophomore Jack Fleming (Suwanee, Ga./Lambert HS) opened up the scoring for BSC in the first inning, and it was followed up by another single-run inning in the third inning, this one produced by an RBI by junior Drew Love (Birmingham, Ala./Calhoun CC).

The Panthers were able to put a crooked number up on the board in the fifth, scoring five runs. The inning was highlighted by a two-RBI double into right field by designated hitter Wes Diamantis (Atlanta, Ga./St. Pius X HS).

BSC's eighth and final run of the game came in the sixth when catcher Will Evans (Peachtree City, Ga./Starrs Mill HS) scored Love on an RBI single up the middle.

Getting the start for the Panthers on the bump was right-hander Andy Hammond (Oxford, Ala./Oxford HS), who carried a no-hitter into the sixth before the visiting Vikings managed a single off the senior hurler. In that same inning, North Park scored its two runs, both unearned, after a couple of throwing errors by the Panthers. Hammond, who improved to 2-0 on the season, would finish the game with six innings pitched, allowing just two hits and striking out six batters.

Sophomore Oliver Livingston (Decatur, Ga./Decatur HS) and junior Luke Drummond (Temple Terrace, Fla./King HS) came in in relief of Hammond and finished out the game.

Game two of the North Park series will continue on Saturday afternoon. First pitch of the game is set for 1 p.m. at Striplin Field.

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