DAHLONEGA -- The 6th-ranked University of North Georgia softball team claimed the NCAA II Southeast Regional I Softball Tournament Championship, defeating Catawba 3-0 in a pitcher's dual on Sunday afternoon at Haines & Carolyn Hill Stadium. The Nighthawks (47-7) advance to a best two-of-three series next weekend against the winner of the Southeast Regional II Tournament in Dahlonega. The fourth-seeded Catawba Indians end their season at 31-17.
UNG improves to a perfect 18-0 in NCAA Regionals hosted at The Hill having won three games in all six on-campus NCAA events.
With runs coming at a premium, the Nighthawks got the only one it needed on a sacrifice fly by Tiffanie Burns in the fifth. Jessica Finch started the inning with a line drive just off the glove of Catawba third baseman Katherine Shumaker, who nearly made a lunging back-handed grab. Finch was able to leg the hit into a double.
Alexis Collis followed on a bunt single that sent pinch runner Hannah McSwain to third. Collins stole second and after a pop up, Kim McMillan walked to load the bases. Burns would hit a 2-2 pitch to the warning track in left center that easily scored McSwain.
A bunt single from Meagan May, a stolen base and a throwing error helped the Nighthawks add two runs in the seventh.
Catawba pitcher Carley Tysinger worked around several infield hits for the Nighthawks as North Georgia left eight on base. Catawba's offense just could not scratch off UNG's Courtney Poole, who registered her 40th win of the season with just three losses.
Poole ended the day allowing just a pair of hits while striking out eight en route to recording her 14th shutout victory of the year. Catawba managed just three base runners off Poole via a pair of singles and a walk.
Offensively, Katie Block recorded a team-best 3-for-3 day from the plate as the Nighthawks outhit Catawba, 7-2.
Tysinger (27-11) allowed the three runs, two of which were earned, off seven hits. She walked one, hit one and fanned three.
