GULF SHORES, Ala. – A split on the first day of the Gulf Shores Invitational is how the No. 5 University of North Georgia softball team opened up its 2023 season. The Nighthawks defeated Spring Hill (0-3) 11-0 in their first game of the day before falling to West Alabama (3-1) 7-4 in the second game.
Tybee Denton (1-0) earned the win against Spring Hill, allowing no hits in her 4 2/3 innings of work.
Delaney Heaberlin completed the no-hit shutout after coming in for relief in the fourth inning.
Mallory Parker was the main catalyst for the UNG bats, going 3-for-3 with four RBIs on the day.
Parker continued her hot start to the day by opening up the scoring for UNG with a single up the middle to drive in
Sophie Mooney in the second game, but a first-inning grand slam for West Alabama was too much to overcome. The Nighthawks would get within one run, but two seventh-inning runs made it a three-run victory for the Tigers.
Next Up
North Georgia will finish their weekend on Sunday (Feb. 5) against Florida Tech at 1:30 p.m. Florida Tech (2-2) fell in their two games on Saturday at the Gulf Shores Invitational against West Alabama and fourth-ranked Auburn-Montgomery.
