DAHLONEGA — Seniors Katie Block, Meagan May, Ansley Phillips, and Alexis Collis combined for three runs and three runs batted in as the North Georgia softball team took down Armstrong State, 4-0, in the first game of the 2016 NCAA Southeast Super Regional. Senior Courtney Poole was near flawless in her effort out of the circle with just one Pirate hit separating her from a perfect game.
The Nighthawks move to 54-6 on the season and are just one win away from a second consecutive trip to the NCAA Division II Softball Championship.
Taking some of the momentum created by sitting Armstrong down in order in back-to-back-to-back innings to start off the game, Meagan May smacked a double into right center that scored Hannah McSwain all the way from first to give the Nighthawks the lead in the bottom of the third. Stephanie Hartness drove in May with her 52nd RBI of the season, a single that dropped down in right field that extended the UNG lead to 2-0.
The Pirates finally got a runner on base with a shallow double down the left field line off the bat of Peyton Roth. The heart of the Armstrong order came up empty against Poole though, with a strikeout, ground out and a pop out that stranded Roth at second.
Ansley Phillips added to North Georgia's lead in the bottom of the fourth as she belted a solo shot to left that made it a 3-0 game. Alexis Collis plated the final run of the game as she drove in Katie Block from third on her double to left center that gave the game its final score, 4-0.
NOTES
- North Georgia is now 4-3 in the opening game of the Super Regional round. In each of the three previous Super Regionals that UNG has won the first game, the Nighthawks went on to advance to the DII Championship.
- Poole (53-2) threw just 71 pitches while striking out seven and allowing just one hit.
- Collis led the team at the plate with a 3-for-3 performance that included the final RBI of the game in the sixth.
NEXT UP
The Nighthawks will look to advance to the Division II Championship in Denver with a win tomorrow. First pitch for game two is set for 4 p.m.
