ORLANDO, Fla. — Freshman right hander
Kylee Smith picked up a complete game two-hit shutout and key save as the fourth-ranked University of North Georgia softball team downed Spring Hill, 2-0, and Eckerd, 3-2, Saturday afternoon at the Diamond9 Citrus Classic at the ESPN Wide World of Sports at the Walt Disney World Resort. The Nighthawks improve to 17-5 on the season with the two victories.
GAME ONE
After a three-up, three-down top of the first, UNG wasted no time getting on the board in the bottom of the first.
Sydney Sprague was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and
Stephanie Hartness made the Badgers pay for the mistake sending a 1-0 pitch over the fence in center to give UNG a 2-0 lead that Smith and the Nighthawk defense would make stand up.
Smith (10-1) took a one-hitter into the seventh inning and got into a bases loaded jam, aided by a UNG error, but was able to work her way out of it while preserving the shutout. In all, Smith allowed just the two hits, one walk, and one hit batsmen while striking out five.
GAME TWO
Eckerd took an early lead in the second game of the day, plating an unearned run in both the first and second innings with just one hit in the two frames. UNG finally answered in the fourth taking advantage of a Triton error that allowed
Kaylyn Anthony to reach. The freshman came in to score on a sacrifice fly to left by
Shelby Hammontree.
Sydney Sprague tied the game in the fifth with an RBI single to center that drove in
Whitney Worth.
Alishia Frierson gave UNG the lead later that inning with a single through the left side that plated Sprague.
Bria Bush (4-3) picked up the win in relief for UNG scattering four hits and two walks in her three innings of work. Smith earned her first save as a Nighthawk closing out the final two innings allowing just one baserunner on a walk, while striking out two of the seven batters she faced.
NEXT UP
The Nighthawks will close out the Citrus Classic with a Top 10 matchup, taking on No. 8 Saint Leo. First pitch is set for 1 p.m., at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.