YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. | The No. 7 University of North Georgia softball team concluded the 2015 regular season with a Peach Belt Conference split at Young Harris on Tuesday afternoon, winning the opener 3-2 before dropping a 10-6 decision in the nightcap at YHC's E.D. Rivers Field. The Nighthawks will enter the PBC Tournament as the top seed with a 41-7 mark and a 22-2 record in conference play. The 22 Peach Belt victories are the most in North Georgia history.
Young Harris moves to 31-17 and 14-10 in the PBC.
Game One
After five scoreless innings, North Georgia broke through with a run in the top of the sixth inning only to see YHC equalize in the bottom of the frame. An RBI-single by Tiffanie Burns scored Alexis Collis for the Nighthawks.
In the top of the seventh, UNG was able to plate a pair on two hits and a pair of fielder's choices from the Mountain Lions. Young Harris threatened in their half, cutting the North Georgia lead in half with a RBI single, but Courtney Poole was able to shut the door and pick up her league-leading 34th victory of the season.
The junior pitcher struck out nine and not allowing an earned run. Kim McMillan, Ansley Phillips and Taylor Anne Merritt each recorded multiple hits.
Game Two
After a pitchers' duel in the opener, both teams were able to find their offensive groove in the second game, combining for 21 hits.
With YHC leading 6-1 in the fifth, North Georgia mounted a charge, cutting the Mountain Lion lead to a single run courtesy of a four-run frame highlighted by a bases-clearing double by Phillips.
After trading runs in the next two innings and with Young Harris clinging to a 7-6 advantage, the hosts were able to capture the split with three runs in the bottom of the sixth.
Phillips finished with a pair of hits, two runs scored and three RBI.
Poole (34-3) was saddled with the loss despite striking out six.
Next Up
The single-elimination 2015 PBC Tournament kicks off on Friday (Apr. 24) in Milledgeville, Ga. at Peeler Complex on the campus of Georgia College.
