GULF SHORES, Ala. | Powered by a strong day at the plate, led by junior Stephanie Hartness' 4-for-5 effort, the top-ranked University of North Georgia softball team picked up wins over Midwestern State 11-6, and Spring Hill, 5-3, to claim a clean sweep at the Gulf South Invitational. The Nighthawks move above .500 for the first time this year, now sitting at 5-4 on the season.

GAME ONE

The day's first game with Midwestern State saw five lead changes in a back-and-forth battle. North Georgia took the lead for good in the top of the fourth with a two-run home run by Ansley Phillips.  AJessica Finch RBI double and a two-run double from Meredith Heyer would widen the lead to 9-4 the next inning.

Freshman pitcher Macy Watkins (1-2) picked up her first victory in the circle allowing five earned runs on 12 hits with one strikeout and one walk. Courtney Poole came in to close the game out tossing the final 1.2 innings striking out four of the five batters that she faced while earning her first save of the season.

GAME TWO

North Georgia took control of the game in the bottom of the second, scoring four runs in the inning. After walking, Phillips drew a throw while stealing second base, and Brittani Crawford broke for home, scoring on the double steal. Meagan May drove in Phillips with a double off the wall in left center and May would come home as Hartness sent a towering homer over the wall in right center.

Spring Hill chipped away at the Nighthawk lead scoring two in the third and one in the fifth to pull the game within one run, 4-3. Phillips would come up big once again though adding some insurance with a RBI single through the right side in the bottom of the fifth to put UNG 5-3.

Poole (4-0) threw the complete game, allowing eight hits while striking out 10.

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