DAHLONEGA — The 11th-ranked University of North Georgia softball team rolled through Sunday's doubleheader against Francis Marion, defeating the Patriots, 6-1, in the first game of the day before taking a 4-0 win against FMU in the second half of the twin bill. UNG moves to 30-5 on the year with a perfect 8-0 mark in Peach Belt Conference action.
GAME ONE
The Nighthawks got on the board first scoring an unearned run in the bottom of the first inning. After Meagan May delivered a leadoff single, Stephanie Hartness singled through the left side. As May went from first to third, an errant through to third by the left field allowed May to score an put UNG up, 1-0.
Francis Marion tied the game up in the next frame as Taylor Johnson sent a two-out 3-2 pitch over the left field wall. North Georgia answered immediately though with another unearned run in the bottom frame of the inning. Katie Block reached on a third-strike passed ball and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Ansley Phillips. Block came in to score on Hannah McSwain's RBI single to left to put UNG back on top, 2-1.
North Georgia broke the game open in the third, plating three runs on RBI singles from Brittani Crawford and Phillips, along with a sacrifice fly from Alexis Collis, that gave UNG a 5-1 advantage.
Phillips drove in the game's final run with a sacrifice fly to right in the bottom of the fifth.
GAME TWO
Samantha Wroblewski and Courtney Poole started out strong in the circle for their respective teams. In the first three innings, there were a total of just three base runners, reaching base on a double, a walk and an error.
North Georgia got on the scoreboard in the fourth after Meredith Heyer opened the inning with a triple to right field on the first pitch of the inning. Four pitches later, Jessica Finch brought her home on a sacrifice fly to right to give the Nighthawks a 1-0 lead.
UNG opened the game up in the sixth inning, plating three more runs. Heyer again opened the inning with a base hit. After a Finch single and Block getting on base on a hit by pitch, Collis earned a RBI on a single that ricocheted off of Wroblewski. Hannah McSwain extended the lead to the game's final 4-0 score on a single back up the middle two pitches later.
NEXT UP
The Nighthawks return to the diamond at "The Hill" tomorrow with a doubleheader against UNC Pembroke. First pitch for the rescheduled series is set for Noon.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2016/3/378901/no-11-ung-softball-extends-winning-streak-to-11-with-sweep-of-francis-marion