ROME — The eighth-ranked North Georgia softball team suffered slight a setback in Tuesday's doubleheader at Shorter, falling to the Hawks 4-3 in game one and 4-1 in the second game of the day. The Nighthawks were plagued by a combined four errors on the day. UNG slips to 10-4 on the season after the pair of defeats.
GAME ONE
Shorter took an early lead in the bottom of the first scoring off a UNG error in the outfield. The Nighthawks answered in the next frame though as Shelby Hammontree stroked a two-out double to right center and came into score on an RBI single to left center by Kali Turner.
North Georgia took the lead in the top of the fifth as Stephanie Hartness followed a Sydney Sprague double with a two-run home run to put the Nighthawks up, 3-1. Another UNG error would prove costly in the sixth though as Shorter tied the game that went into extra innings.
The international tiebreaker was initiated in the eighth inning but the Nighthawks were unable to advance their runner from second with three consecutive fly outs.
Kylee Smith (6-1) suffered her first loss of the season giving up four runs, only one of which was earned, on 10 hits and two walks. The freshman, who was named Peach Belt Conference Pitcher of the Week just before first pitch, recorded seven strikeouts.
GAME TWO
The Hawks once again got on the board first in the bottom of the first inning with an RBI single after an error and a two-run homer that put Shorter up 3-0. UNG used some small ball to plate a run in the top of the second but Shorter answered right back with a RBI double to left center that made it 4-1.
That score would stick as there would only be a combined three hits tallied for the rest of the game, giving Shorter the doubleheader sweep of the Nightahwks.
Bria Bush (3-3) had a rough outing allowing all four runs in just an inning of work on four hits and two walks. Amber Johns proved quite effective in relief allowing just three hits in her five innings in the circle.
NOTES
- Alishia Frierson and Stephanie Hartness were the only Nighthawks to record multiple hits on the day. Hartness went 2-for-4 with two RBI in the first game, while Frierson picked up a hit in each game and was the only UNG batter to garner a hit in game two.
- The Nighthawks had not been swept in a true regular season doubleheader since March 29, 2013 when UNG was beaten twice by Armstrong State.
- Today's two victories were the first for Shorter in the all-time series. UNG still holds a strong advantage in the all-time matchup, 12-2.
NEXT UP
North Georgia will return to the friendly confines of Haines & Carolyn Hill Stadium on Saturday and Sunday, hosting the annual Captain D's Classic. UNG will play in a twin bill starting at Noon each day.
