DAHLONEGA - Kylee Smith threw 6.2 innings of one-hit softball as the top-ranked University of North Georgia softball team advanced in the NCAA Southeast Regional with a 5-2 win over eighth-seeded King at Haines & Carolyn Hill Stadium.

Shelby Hammontree jump started the offense in the second inning with a two-run blast to left field before Marley Stowers doubled the lead with a bases clearing double with two outs to give the Nighthawks a 4-0 lead.

With two outs in the fifth, North Georgia struck again with a pinch-hit RBI single to left that plated Kaylyn Anthony all the way from first after a Tornado error to give UNG a 5-0 lead.

King did get on the scoreboard in the seventh with a two-run homer from Katelyn Davidson, but Smith came back in the game and sat down the remaining King batters to preserve the win.

NOTES
- Smith (31-1) struck out seven batters and hit one without allowing a walk or more than a hit in the fifth inning, a double by Erin Roper.

- Stowers finished 2-for-2 at the plate with two RBI, and Anthony was 3-for-3 with two runs scored to lead North Georgia at the plate.

- North Georgia improves to 5-0 all-time against the Tornado, 2-0 in NCAA tournament play.

- Fourth-seeded Coker defeated fifth-seeded Queens, 2-0, in the second game of the day. The game was lengthened due to a 2:13 weather delay in the bottom of the third.

NEXT UP
The Nighthawks will take on No. 4 Coker tomorrow at noon, while King will play No. 5 Queens contest at 2:30 p.m. in an elimination game.