MILLIDGEVILLE — North Georgia senior Courtney Poole threw her sixth career no-hitter as the No. 5 Nighthawks made quick work of eighth-seeded Francis Marion in the 2016 Peach Belt Conference Quarterfinals hosted at the Peeler Complex in Milledgeville. The start of the game was delayed by nearly three and a half hours due to rain earlier in the day, with first pitch taking place just before 10 p.m.
Meagan May provided the spark that lit the Nighthawk offense on fire with a leadoff double over the head of the leftfielder in the bottom of the first. Back-to-back throwing errors allowed May to come in to score on the same play. Stephanie Hartness followed with a double up the middle and eventually came home on a Katie Block RBI single off the glove of the second baseman, giving North Georgia a 2-0 lead.
The Nighthawks picked up another four runs in the second inning highlighted by Jessica Finch's two-run double over the head of the centerfielder that extended the UNG lead to 6-0.
With runners at second and third in the bottom of the fourth, Meredith Heyer drove in Hannah McSwain with a sacrifice fly to left and Hartness came home just two pitches later on an illegal pitch to give North Georgia the all-important 8-0 lead.
Poole collected retired the Patriots in order again in the top of the fifth to close out the game. The Nighthawk ace would have had her third career perfect game if it weren't for Mykah Nevin's two-out walk in the top of the first inning that came on a 3-2 count.
NOTES
- The no-hitter is the fourth for Poole this season including her perfect game against Coker and back-to-back no-hitters at Georgia Southwestern. It was just the third no-hitter in Peach Belt Conference Tournament history.
- Poole picked up two strikeouts while just allowing the one walk. She retired the last 13 FMU batters.
- Hannah McSwain led the team at the plate with a 2-for-2 performance. The junior scored both times she reached base. Stephanie Hartness also scored three runs on the night.
NEXT UP
North Georgia will move on to face fifth-seeded UNC Pembroke in the PBC Tournament semifinals tomorrow at 1 p.m., with the winner advancing on to the championship game that is set for a 4 p.m. start.
