DAHLONEGA - After trailing most of the game, a three-run sixth was the difference as the No. 5 and top-seeded University of North Georgia softball team survived an upset bid from eighth-seeded UNC Pembroke, 7-5, Friday night in the Peach Belt quarterfinals.

After starting the game over three hours late due to numerous lightning delays throughout the day, the Braves struck first in the top of the first on a sacrifice fly. North Georgia answered in the bottom of the first, taking advantage of two UNCP errors to tie the game, 1-1.

UNC Pembroke retook the lead on a solo homer down the left field line in the second inning and held on to that one-run lead until the fifth. UNG used a RBI single from Kaylee Womack and a RBI double from Kali Turner to take a 4-2 lead through five complete.

The Braves answered with a three-run homer in the top half of the sixth to retake the lead, but the Nighthawks had one more answer. Marley Stowers tied the game on a RBI double before RBI singles from Womack and Lexi Duncan gave the Nighthawks the final lead.

NOTES
- Kylee Smith (25-2) earned the win, striking out 11 along the way.

- Stowers, Duncan and Womack each had two hits in the game.

- In other quarterfinal action, seventh-seeded Georgia Southwestern upset second-seeded Columbus State, while No. 3 Young Harris walked off No. 6 Francis Marion in the second quarterfinal. No. 5 Georgia College and No. 4 Flagler are still in action at the time of writing.

NEXT UP
The Nighthawks will take on the winner of Georgia College and Flagler tomorrow afternoon with a scheduled start time of 1:30 p.m.