Tournament Preview: The No. 4 University of North Georgia softball team will battle two top-25 teams this weekend in the Captain D's Surf 'n Turf Classic at The Hill.
Rankings: UNG is ranked No. 4 in the latest NFCA top 25 poll, announced Wednesday. Also ranked in the Southeast Region is No. 7 Carson-Newman, No. 21 Wingate and No. 25 Newberry. Lenoir-Rhyne and Young Harris are each receiving votes
Nighthawks on the Web: Fans can follow UNG at home live on the Internet via live stats (UNGAthletics.com) and via web stream on YouTube or Facebook Live through the Nighthawk Sports Network. Fans can also follow the action through Twitter by following the softball team (@UNGSoftball).
Last Week: The Nighthawks went 3-1 in the UNG Campus Connection Classic this past weekend, winning two of three against Palm Beach Atlantic and beating Catawba, 11-0, in six innings.
Opponents: North Georgia will play No. 2 West Florida and No. 21 Wingate both days of the classic.
PBC Team Stats: Laken Chambers (0.30) and Kylee Smith (0.53) have the two lowest ERAs in the PBC while Abbie Crawford (2.42) is ninth in the league. Smith is tied for the league lead in wins (6) and is second in the PBC in strikeouts (59). The Nighthawk pitching staff leads the league in ERA (1.11), strikeouts (107) and earned runs allowed (16). North Georgia's offense currently sits in the middle of the pack in all the major offensive categories.
Scouting the Opponents: West Florida is 21-1 on the year and 9-0 in Gulf South action to start the season. UWF ranks in the top 10 in Division II in shutouts (8; 4th), batting (.376; 10th), ERA (1.34; 10th), and fielding percentage (.978; 10th). North Georgia is 2-0 all-time against West Florida, winning once a year since 2017 and outscoring the Argos, 13-1, in those two games. Wingate has been one of the hottest teams in the country, as the Bulldogs are riding a 16-game winning streak after dropping their first two games of the season to Erskine. West Florida and UNG are the first two ranked teams Wingate will play this season. The Nighthawks are 5-5 against Wingate all-time and have won the last three, including twice last season. UNG is 3-3 at The Hill against the Bulldogs.
Captain D's Info: Fans are encouraged to dine at our event's title sponsor – Captain D's Seafood Restaurant located at 145 Memorial Drive here in Dahlonega. Captain D's Seafood Restaurant is dedicated to serving freshly prepared seafood at reasonable prices, all while offering the best dining experience in the industry. They have over 40 years of experience perfecting their recipe for success, which combines great food and great value with even better service.
