COLUMBUS — For the first time in program history, the University of North Georgia softball team will begin regular season play in the month of January. The Nighthawks will open up their 2016 campaign tomorrow at the Peach Belt/Gulf South Southern Softball Showdown at the South Commons Softball Complex in Columbus.
The event features a total of eight teams, four from the Peach Belt Conference and four from the Gulf South Conference, facing each other in a total of 16 games spread across two fields on Saturday and Sunday. PBC teams will be the designated home team in every game on Saturday while GSC programs will get the last at bat in Sunday's games.
The Nighthawks will open with North Alabama - receiving votes in the NFCA DII preseason poll - on the stadium field at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday. The Lions finished with a 38-14 record last season with a 17-9 mark in GSC play. UNA went 6-3 last year against Top 25 opponents, earning hosting rights in the NCAA DII Tournament last year in the South Region. North Alabama fell just a win short of advancing to Super Regionals. They return their ace in the circle, Hillary Carpenter, but the team will be without its top three hitters from a season ago.
UNG will face Delta State in their second game on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. on field three at the complex. The Lady Statesmen finished three games above .500 last year without a Top 25 win, however they did claim a series victory over eventual national semifinalist, Shorter.
On Sunday North Georgia will open action against Alabama-Huntsville on field three. The Chargers open the season ranked 18th nationally and return all four pitchers from last year's squad and three of their top four bats. UAH went 40-16 last season with a second-place finish in the Gulf South Conference.
North Georgia will wrap up play in the tournament on the stadium field at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday facing No. 6 Valdosta State. The defending Gulf South Champions went 48-9 last season before being upset at home in the NCAA Tournament South Regional.
Live stats will be provided for all games on UNGAthletics.com, including full coverage on Twitter, @UNGSoftball.
