DAHLONEGA – In its home opener, the No. 5 University of North Georgia softball team defeated Florida Southern (2-2) and King (1-3) to open up the first day of the Captain D's Surf & Turf Classic at Haines & Carolyn Hill Stadium at Lynn Cottrell Park. The Nighthawks began the day with a 12-0 win over FSC before taking down King 8-1 in the day's second game.
North Georgia 12, Florida Southern 0 (7)
Sophie Mooney led the way at the plate in the first game, and
Mariah Wicker came up with a clutch triple, driving in three runs. The Nighthawks were scoreless for the first five innings of action before exploding for 12 runs in the sixth to come away with the run-rule victory.
Kristen Davis threw four scoreless innings before Mooney (1-0) came in for relief in the fifth inning, earning the win in 1 1/3 innings of work.
North Georgia 8, King 1
In the second game, King struck first in the top of the third before
Jolie Lester and Mooney put together a pair of doubles to get the Nighthawks on the board.
Hannah Forehand put one over the fence, adding the icing on top with a three-run shot to take a 5-1 lead in the third.
Tybee Denton continued a hot start, earning the win in six innings of work, allowing just one run on five hits while striking out seven.
Mallory Parker finished with three hits in four at-bats in the second game, driving in one run.
Next Up
The Nighthawks will face both squads again tomorrow, with first pitch against FSC scheduled for 1:00 p.m. First pitch and the game versus King is scheduled for 3 p.m. Florida Southern and King will open up the day on Monday with an 11:00 a.m start time.
