ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA — The 12th-ranked North Georgia softball team was able to overcome a total of six errors on the day, using a pair of extra inning home runs to take down Flagler, 2-0 in 12 innings and 4-1 in nine innings. The Nighthawks advance to 26-5 overall and 4-0 in Peach Belt Conference play.
GAME ONE
In a game where nothing seemed to go the way of the Nighthawks, UNG was ultimately able to push through in the 12th inning to break the scoreless tie and take down the Saints.
Flagler managed to get 11 hits in the game, the most hits Poole has allowed in a game this season, though just four of this hits left the infield. The North Georgia ace was able to work out of several jams, stranding 14 Saints on base throughout the contest.
UNG's first real offensive threat didn't come until the 11th inning when Alexis Collis would reach on a leadoff single and Kelly Kahlert followed with a walk to put runners at first and second with no outs. However an infield pop up, a fielder's choice and a groundout quickly ended the threat.
Jessica Finch would reach as the leadoff in the 12th being hit by a pitch, then Brittani Crawford stepped up and delivered a two-run bomb to center to break the 11-inning scoring draught and put the Nighthawks up, 2-0. Poole sat down Flagler in order in the bottom half of the inning to secure the victory.
GAME TWO
Flagler took advantage of a first inning error to get on the board first plating an unearned run and taking a 1-0 lead. North Georgia would answer in the fourth as Jessica Finch drove in Stephanie Hartness from third with a sacrifice fly to the wall in center to tie the game, 1-1.
Neither team would get more than one runner on in an inning after that, until the top of the ninth when Kahlert reached with a leadoff walk followed by Brittani Crawford reaching on a passed ball strikeout. That's when Katie Block came through with a three-run shot to right to put the Nighthawks up, 4-1.
The Saints came up with a leadoff single in the bottom of the ninth but North Georgia picked up a double play and a ground out to end the game and complete the doubleheader sweep.
NOTES
- Courtney Poole (25-1) pitched all 21.0 inning on the night, allowing 18 hits with five walks and 17 strikeouts. The UNG ace threw a combined 275 pitches in the twin bill.
- Brittani Crawford's two-run homer in game one, was her second consecutive game-winning hit.
- Katie Block and Alexis Collis were the only two Nighthawks to get at least one hit in each game.
- North Georgia is now 18-5 all-time against Flagler and have beaten the Saints in six straight games dating back to 2014.
NEXT UP
The Nighthawks will wrap up their spring break road trip with a stop in Americus to take on Georgia Southwestern on Wednesday. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
