Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 GULF SHORES, Ala. - The No. 5 University of North Georgia softball team split its opening day slate of games, defeating Delta State in five innings before falling to Mississippi College.

GAME 1 - UNG 11, DSU 1 (5 inn.)
North Georgia didn't waste time in the season opener getting on the scoreboard, scoring twice in the top of the first on RBI doubles from Gracie Mixson and Madison Simmons. The Nighthawks didn't stop there, plating five in the second, including twice off singles from both Georgia Blair and Jolie Lester.

After Delta State pushed a run across in the third to make the score 7-1, the Nighthawks put the game away in the fifth with Simmons, Blair, Mallory Parker and Lester all getting a RBI in the frame.

Tybee Denton (1-0) earned the win, going the full five innings, striking out seven while surrendering just two hits and the unearned run.

GAME 2 - MC 17, UNG 6
The Choctaws wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, plating a run in the top of the first and four in the third to take a 5-0 lead. The Nighthawks got on the board in the fourth on a Parker single, but MC answered with three in the top of the fifth to extend their lead to 8-1.

A sacrifice fly by Gracie Mixson in the bottom of the fifth cut the lead down to 8-2, but again the Choctaws responded with a four spot in the sixth inning. UNG matched the inning in the bottom off a Mariah Wicker double and some good base running in the frame, but MC finished the game scoring five in the seventh.

NOTES
- The 18 hits in the game against Delta State was the most in a game since February 9, 2020, when UNG had 19 against McKendree.

NEXT UP
The Nighthawks will face No. 17 West Florida and No. 7 Valdosta State tomorrow in the final day of the Gulf Shores Invitational.