DAHLONEGA — The eighth-ranked University of North Georgia softball team split a nationally televised doubleheader with Georgia College Tuesday afternoon, winning game one in come-from-behind fashion, 10-5, before falling in game two, 3-2. The doubleheader was part of UNG's Make-A-Wish Day built by the Nighthawk Nation. North Georgia moves to 35-6 on the year with a 13-1 mark in Peach Belt Conference action.
GAME ONE
North Georgia got on the board early in the first. After a Meagan May leadoff double, Stephanie Hartness provided a RBI single to right to put the Nighthawks on top, 1-0.
Georgia College responded with a single run in the top of the second to tie the game, but the Nighthawks would retake the lead in the bottom frame. Meredith Heyer led off the inning with a double and advanced to third before coming home on a throw-down to second base on a stolen base attempt.
Leading 2-1, North Georgia got the bats going again in the fourth. After Ansley Phillips reached on a fielder's choice, she came around to score on an Alexis Collis single and a Bobcat error to stretch the UNG lead to 3-1.
The Bobcats took their first lead of the contest in the fifth inning, scoring four runs off four hits and one UNG error. The inning was highlighted by a Hannah Coursey three-run homer to left field that took the lead for Georgia College, 5-3.
North Georgia answered in the bottom half of the inning. After two singles to leadoff the inning, Jessica Finch brought one run home on a double to right center to cut the lead to one. Heyer drew a four-pitch walk to load the bases, and, two batters later, Phillips was hit by a pitch to walk the tying run home. A third Nighthawk run crossed the plate when pinch hitter Kelly Kahlert drew a walk to put UNG on top again, 6-5.
The Nighthawks put four more runs on the board in the sixth and Courtney Poole retired the Bobcats in order in the seventh to seal the 10-5 win for North Georgia.
GAME TWO
The Bobcats struck first in game two as Abi LeRoy hit her first home run of the season in the first inning. The solo shot put Georgia College up, 1-0. Two innings later, Georgia College did it again, this time with Kristen Brooks sailing the fence to extend the Bobcat lead to 2-0.
The Nighthawks rallied in the fourth to tie the game. With one out in the inning, Hartness doubled down the left field line to give UNG its first hit of the game. After advancing on a wild pitch, she came home to score on a Brittani Crawford RBI double. Crawford tied the game when she crossed the plate on a Heyer RBI single to right field.
Georgia College scratched one more run in the sixth, a run that ultimately became the winning run. LeRoy doubled to start the Bobcat rally with one out. After a Lacey Najafi single, Faith Flanders brought home the game-winning RBI on a single up the middle.
North Georgia got a runner on base in each of the final two innings but were unable to get farther than second base.
NOTES
- The official attendance in the first game of the day shattered the former Haines and Carolyn Hill Stadium record of 678 with a crowd of 837 fans on hand to watch UNG take down the Bobcats, 10-5.
- Poole recorded her 300th strikeout of the season with the final out in the third inning of game two. Her current record stands at 34-2 with a 0.66 ERA.
- The game two loss marked just the fifth PBC loss for the Nighthawks in their last 66 conference games.
NEXT UP
North Georgia continues its home stand with a doubleheader against Montevallo. With inclement weather forecasted for Thursday, the twin bill set has been moved to Friday afternoon with a first pitch slated for 3 p.m. at Hill Stadium.
