ORLANDO, Fla. — The No. 4 University of North Georgia softball team proved victorious in their first Top 10 matchup of the 2017 season, downing eighth-ranked Saint Leo, 3-1, Sunday afternoon at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at the Walt Disney World Resort. The Nighthawks improve to 18-5 on the season with the win, their first against a ranked opponent this season.
 
Sydney Sprague got UNG on the board first in the top of the third, leading off the inning with a solo homer over the left field fence. Saint Leo tied the game in the bottom of the fourth, scoring an unearned run off a North Georgia infield error.
 
Sprague started off the fifth with a single to right and was moved over to second by a Stephanie Hartness sacrifice bunt to third. Alishia Frierson brought Sprague in to score with an RBI double into the left center gap to put the Nighthawks back on top, 2-1.
 
North Georgia added a little insurance in the sixth as Jessica Finch reached on a hit by pitch to lead off the inning. Finch stole second with two outs and came in to score on a Kaycie Oakley double to center to put UNG up by the 3-1 score that proved final.
 
NOTES
- Kylee Smith (11-1) picked up the complete game win, scattering five hits and two walks while striking out six. The one Saint Leo run was unearned.
 
- Sydney Sprague was the only Nighthawk with a multi-hit day, going 2-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored and two runs batted in. The junior is now tied for the league lead in home runs (7) and is two RBI shy of the top spot in the PBC in runs batted in (24).
 
- North Georgia owns a 4-1 advantage in the all-time series against Saint Leo. This was the first meeting between the two teams since 2014.
 
NEXT UP
The Nighthawks are set to return home for their first true regular season doubleheader at Hill Stadium this season, hosting Lee on Wednesday, March 1. The twin bill is set for a 3 p.m. first pitch.