SALISBURY, N.C. — Three home runs in the second half of a Thursday doubleheader gave the No. 2 University of North Georgia softball team the clean sweep of Catawba, winning game one, 7-0, before a 7-3 win in the second game of the day. The Nighthawks now are on a seven-game winning streak as they stretched their record to 30-1.
GAME ONE
After three scoreless innings, the Nighthawks scratched the scoreboard after loading the bases. Sydney Sprague brought home the game's first run on a sacrifice fly, giving North Georgia a 1-0 lead.
UNG increased its lead in the sixth, scoring four unearned runs on three hits and two Indian errors. In the seventh, after a leadoff double by Brittany Gilliam, Sprague earned her second RBI of the game on a single to right. Kara Groover scored the game's final run on a fielder's choice before Laken Chambers got the final three outs in the bottom of the frame.
Smith earned her 15th win of the season, throwing six innings of shutout softball. She struck out 10 and gave up just two hits and a walk.
GAME TWO
The game started out scoreless through two innings before Hobby Gregory lit up the scoreboard with a two-run homer in the third, her first of the season, to give UNG a 2-0 lead. Catawba cut the lead in half in the third, scoring on a Nighthawk error, but North Georgia gained that run back and more on a three-run bomb by Gilliam in the fourth to bring the score to 5-1.
Sprague got in on the home run hitting in the fifth, smacking a solo shot to leadoff the inning and stretching the lead to 6-1. Marley Stowers scored in the inning as well, giving North Georgia a 7-1 lead before the Indians brought two more across on a solo shot in the fifth and a RBI single in the sixth to bring the game to its final score.
Smith was credited with the win in relief, throwing two innings and striking out four of the six batters she faced.
NOTES
- The Nighthawks had just four hits in the second game, three of those being homers. UNG drew five walks in the contest as well.
- Shelby Hammontree did not register an official at-bat in game one, drawing four walks in her four plate appearances.
- North Georgia is now 2-2 all-time in Salisbury and is 13-2 all-time against the Indians, winning the last nine matchups. UNG has not lost to Catawba since February 24, 2013.
NEXT UP
Because of inclement weather forecasted for Saturday, the Nighthawks will not play again until Sunday afternoon when UNC Pembroke comes to Dahlonega. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. from Haines and Carolyn Hill Stadium.
