Thursday March 28th, 2024 7:26PM

Poole sets NCAA DII wins record; No. 4 softball advances to Regional Final

By AccessWDUN Staff

DAHLONEGA — North Georgia senior Courtney Poole picked up her 51st victory of the season - a new NCAA Division II record for wins in a single-season - as the fourth-ranked Nighthawks defeated Catawba, 1-0, to advance to tomorrow's Southeast Regional final. 

After two scoreless innings to open the game, Hannah McSwain sparked a North Georgia rally in the bottom of the third. McSwain laced a double down the left field line and advanced to third on a bunt single by Meagan May, who stole second to give way for a Stephanie Hartness walk. With the bases loaded and no one out, Meredith Heyer sent a fly ball to left, just deep enough to score McSwain from third. 

Poole made the 1-0 score hold up, tossing her 22nd complete game shutout of the season.

NOTES
- Poole (51-2) allowed just five hits on the day while striking out nine Indian batters.

- Meagan May, Katie Block, and Hannah McSwain were the only three Nighthawks to earn a hit against Catawba ace Carley Tysinger.

- North Georgia improves to 11-2 all-time against Catawba, with a perfect 10-0 mark against the Indians in Dahlonega.

NEXT UP
The Nighthawks will face Georgia College tomorrow at 1 p.m. in the Southeast Regional I Championship. The Bobcats defeated Young Harris and Catawba today to advance out of the losers' bracket.

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