DAHLONEGA — While it took some time for the offense to get started, once the No. 11 North Georgia softball team started scoring runs, they never seemed to stop. UNG swept UNC Pembroke with a 3-1 victory and game one before coming alive with a 8-0 win in five innings in the second game of the day. The Nighthawks advance to 32-5 on the year with a perfect 10-0 record in the Peach Belt Conference.
GAME ONE
The bats remained relatively quiet on both sides for the first four innings of the ballgame, but a fifth inning leadoff triple to left center off the bat of Brittani Crawford provided a spark for the UNG lineup. Crawford came home on a ground-and-go play from Katie Block, the Braves tried to retire Crawford at the plate but we unsuccessful in the attempt giving the Nighthawks the lead, 1-0. UNG would go on to load the bases and Ansley Phillips would come in to score on a wild pitch to make it a 2-0 game but just two pitches later a ground out would end the inning.
Crawford came up with another big hit in the bottom of the sixth with a solo shot to left to give the Nighthawks a 3-0 advantage. UNCP's Abbey Walters managed to reach on a UNG error in right field and came home to score on a two-out single to left by Toni Nelson as the Braves were able to avoid the shutout with the unearned run. A fly out to left in the next at bat would end it, 3-1.
GAME TWO
The Nighthawks picked up right where the left off scoring three runs in the bottom of the first to take an early lead. UNG took advantage of back-to-back leadoff walks and plated the first run of the game on a Meredith Heyer double to right. Another run would come in on an RBI groundout by Jessica Finch and the third run scored on a single up the middle by Block.
Stephanie Hartness singled to left center with one out in the bottom of the second and proceeded to steal second and then advanced to third on a Kelly Kahlert groundout to short stop. Hartness came in to score on a RBI single to right center from Crawford, extending UNG's lead to 4-0.
North Georgia would push three more runs across in the third inning, powered by RBI singles from Phillips and Hannah McSwain. McSwain would come in to score herself on a two-out error on the UNCP short stop on a ground ball from Hartness that gave the Nighthawks a 7-0 lead.
While UNG couldn't find a run in the fourth, the Nighthawks got the coveted eighth run in the bottom of the fifth on a game-clinching RBI single down the right field line by Kahlert to score Whitney Worth with ease and end the game on the run-rule.
NOTES
- Courtney Poole (31-1) went all 12.0 innings on the day, allowing just five hits while recording 11 strikeouts. Poole did not allow a walk and the only run of the day was unearned.
- With her 11 Ks today, Poole currently sits at 997 strikeouts in her career at UNG. The UNG ace is also one win away from tying and two away from breaking Sarah Phillips' all-time wins record (124).
- Brittani Crawford and Ansley Phillips led the Nighthawks at the plate on the day, both coming up with three hits in the doubleheader. Crawford added two RBI.
- North Georgia extends its winning streak to 13 games with the sweep.
- UNG owns a 21-3 all-time advantage over UNC Pembroke. The Nighthawks have won 18 straight against the Braves dating back to 2008.
STAT OF THE DAY
5 - The Braves were only able to collect five hits in 12.0 innings against Poole.
NEXT UP
North Georgia will head to Columbus on Friday for an afternoon doubleheader against Columbus State. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.
