DAHLONEGA — The winningest senior class in University of North Georgia history nearly pulled off a comeback for the ages, but it wasn't meant to be as Armstrong State hit their sixth home run of the night in the eighth inning that went on to punch their ticket to Denver. Armstrong defeated the Nighthawks, 4-2, in the first game of the day that featured a 3 hour and 16 minute weather delay before getting the best of UNG in the decisive game three, 5-3, in extra innings.
North Georgia ends their season at 54-7, the third best winning percentage (.885) in program history. The 54 wins also equals the single season best that was set by last year's national championship squad.
GAME TWO: Armstrong State 4, North Georgia 2
The first game of the day only went 10 minutes before being halted due to thunderstorms in the area. After a delay of over three hours in the bottom of the first inning, ASU's Hannah Reppert sent the second pitch over the wall in left center to give Armstrong its first lead of the season against UNG, 2-0. Macy Coleman extended the Pirate lead to 3-0 later in the inning with a solo homer to center.
UNG loaded the bases in both the third and the fifth innings but in both situations the Nighthawks were only able to come up with a single run on a RBI ground out and a fielder's choice both off the bat of Jessica Finch.
GAME THREE: Armstrong State 5, North Georgia 3 (8 Innings)
Alexis Collis got the Nighthawks on the right side of the scoreboard for what would be the only time of the night for UNG with her single up the middle that scored Katie Block to give North Georgia a 1-0 lead.
The Pirates wasted no time striking back though as Logan Harrell blasted her second home run of the night, a two-run shot, over the scoreboard in right center. Reppert would go deep again as well in the fifth inning to extend the Armstrong lead to 3-1.
UNG threatened in the fifth with runners at second and third, but came up empty. As they Nighthawks came down to their last out in the bottom of the seventh, senior Meagan May crushed her first career home run over the left field wall that she has protected for four years in Dahlonega. The two-run shot tied the game and electrified the crowd at Haines and Carolyn Hill Stadium.
Armstrong would not go quietly though as Autumn Parrish delivered a big blow in the top of the eighth with her two-run blast to left that went on to win the game for the Pirates, 5-3.
NOTES
Courtney Poole (53-5) took the loss in both games, allowing a combined nine runs on 11 hits including the six home runs that provided all of Armstrong's runs on the night. Poole picked up five strikeouts in each game to finish the season at 445.
Friday marked the first time in Poole's incredible career that she was defeated twice in the same day.
UNG's senior class ends their four-year mark with a record of 191-41 (.823) with three conference championships, three conference tournament championships, four NCAA Tournament appearances, three Southeast Super Regional appearances, and the program's only National Championship.
