DAHLONEGA - For the first time since 2015, the No. 1 University of North Georgia softball team is headed to the NCAA Division II Softball Championship after coming back to eliminate Young Harris, 2-1, in the Southeast Super Regional Friday afternoon at Haines & Carolyn Hill Stadium.

The Mountain Lions struck first in the fourth, using three singles to scratch the game's first run across the plate. North Georgia got runners in scoring position in three innings without plating a run prior to finally scoring in the sixth.

With a 2-2 count to lead off the sixth, Kaylyn Anthony blasted a solo shot that never got higher than seven feet off the ground, just clearing the fence to tie the game, 1-1. North Georgia took the lead for good as Hobby Gregory came sliding into home on a double steal to give UNG the margin needed to advance in the tournament. Young Harris got a runner to third in the final frame, but a groundout to senior Brittany Gilliam clinched the win, allowing the celebration to begin.

NOTES
- Kylee Smith earned her 35th win of the year, surrendering just one run off five hits and three walks while punching out eight.

- The one-run lead for YHC was the first time that North Georgia had trailed in a game since the regular season finale against Flagler when UNG trailed, 1-0, for a half inning before the Nighthawks scored four in the next half inning.

- Shelby Hammontree led UNG at the plate, going 1-for-2 with a walk.

- With the win, North Georgia officially wins the Battle of Blood Mountain for the fifth straight year, 6.0-4.0.

NEXT UP
The Nighthawks will head to Salem, Virginia, for the 2018 NCAA Division II Softball Championship and will play on Thursday in the first game. The NCAA Softball Committee will reseed the eight teams prior to releasing the matchups.