DAHLONEGA - The third-ranked University of North Georgia softball team took care of business Saturday afternoon as they took down fourth-seeded Columbus State in the Peach Belt Conference Tournament semifinal, 6-1, at The Hill.

North Georgia struck first in the third inning when Olivia Sinquefield doubled to left center to give UNG a 1-0 lead. Columbus State answered in the next frame, pushing across a run on a Madeline Parker RBI single with the bases loaded to tie the game, but Kylee Smith worked out of the jam to keep the score tied.

The Nighthawks blew the game open in the fifth, starting with a bases loaded RBI triple from Shelby Hammontree to push the lead out to 4-1. After a fielder's choice plated Hammontree, Mallory Parker wrapped up the scoring with a RBI single.

NOTES
- Smith improved to 15-3 with an eight strikeout performance. She scattered a run off three hits and four walks across the seven innings.

- Sinquefield finished the day 2-for-3 at the plate as the only UNG batter with multiple hits.

- In the second semifinal, Young Harris scored the final six runs of the game to win, 6-3, over UNC Pembroke.

NEXT UP
The Nighthawks will take on No. 10 YHC next Saturday. Game time as well as ticket information will be released early next week.