OKLAHOMA CITY -- University of Indianapolis junior ace Morgan Foley etched her name in the NCAA Championship record book, joining a select few in throwing a no-hitter in the NCAA Division II Softball Championship. Unfortunately for the sixth-ranked University of North Georgia softball team, they came up on the wrong side of the pitcher's duel, 1-0. With the loss the Nighthawks fall into the loser's bracket and will face St. Mary's (Texas) in an elimination game on Saturday.
Both teams were retired in order in both the first and second innings with each team snapping the streak, getting a runner on in the third inning but neither could push a run across.
The Greyhounds got two aboard in the top of the fourth with a bunt single and a bloop hit to left, but Poole worked around the jam to turn UIndy away. After the Nighthawks were retired in order in the bottom frame of the inning, the Hounds got two more runners on in the fifth on two infield errors by UNG, but once again Poole worked around the situation to keep the game scoreless.
North Georgia got a runner on in the bottom of the fifth when Jessica Finch reached on a fielding error by the second baseman. Hannah McSwain would enter to pinch run for the catcher, but got caught stealing to end the inning.
Casey Williamson reached on a double to centerfield that was misplayed and dropped in for a hit. The defensive miscue would prove costly as Taylor Russell pushed a RBI single to center to bring home Williamson and score what would be the games only run.
The Nighthawks once again got a runner on with one out in the bottom of the sixth, when Meredith Heyer drew a walk but once again UNG could not advance the runner.
After Poole sat down the Hounds in order in the seventh the team got some late momentum as Kim McMillan earned a leadoff walk and advanced into scoring position on a great sacrifice bunt by Tiffanie Burns. Looking to tie the game Ansley Phillips had a great 11-pitch at bat that ended with a frozen rope into the glove of the UIndy first baseman who quickly threw over to second to double up McMillan who would have came into score the tying run had the ball been just a few inches to the right.
Morgan Foley (39-8) got the win for the Hounds in the no-hit performance. Foley allowed just two walks while she struck out 10 Nighthawk batters.
Courtney Poole (42-4) took the tough-luck loss for UNG, going all 7 innings while scattering five hits, including two bunts and a bloop single, on just 88 pitches. Poole struck out two without issuing a free pass.
North Georgia will get tomorrow off before starting what would be a four game journey to get to the championship game with their first elimination game on Saturday at 1 p.m. (noon, Central) against No. 7 St. Mary's (Texas) at Field Three of the ASA Hall of Fame Complex in Oklahoma City. The game will be broadcast live on NCAA.com.
