SALEM, VIRGINIA — A big seventh inning rally fell just short of tying the game as the No. 1 University of North Georgia softball team's season came to a close in a 3-2 loss to No. 25 Saint Leo Saturday morning in the NCAA Division II Softball Championship at the Moyer Sports Complex.
The Lions struck for all three of their runs in the fourth inning, the first coming on a throwing error just before a two-out pinch hit single that plated two more and put Saint Leo up 3-0.
North Georgia finally got going in the bottom of the seventh, starting with a leadoff walk to Shelby Hammontree. After a Lion error and a walk, the Nighthawks had the bases loaded for a sacrifice fly by Marley Stowers to pull within two.
With two outs, Kristen Adkins singled and advanced to second as Sydney Sprague came home and Allison Neely slid safely into third to put the tying run 60 feet away, but the Lions held on to advance in the tournament, ending the Nighthawks' season.
NOTES
- Kylee Smith was tabbed with the tough luck loss, giving up three runs, none of which were earned. She struck out seven Lions and scattered nine hits.
- North Georgia finished the season with a record of 62-4, the most wins in program history. UNG will likely end the season with the most wins across all divisions.
- The Nighthawks graduate just two seniors, Sprague and Brittany Gilliam, who finished their two-year UNG careers with a combined record of 110-17.
