MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. – A pair of victories for the No. 1 University of North Georgia softball team clinched a series victory over Georgia College and State University in its three-game Peach Belt Conference series.
The Nighthawks mounted a comeback in the top of the seventh to take the first game 10-7 before a dominant effort in the circle by
Tybee Denton (W, 14-0) led the way to a 6-0 win in the second game.
North Georgia 10, GCSU 7
A disastrous second inning put UNG on upset watch, with GCSU garnering all seven runs scored on the day in the inning, taking a 7-4 lead. The Nighthawks chipped away steadily at the lead, with
Sophie Mooney (W, 6-2) coming in for relief, allowing the Nighthawks to stay within striking distance.
Mooney pitched four innings in relief, allowing no runs on just one hit and striking out seven in one of her best outings of the year. On the offensive end,
Olivia Sinquefield led the charge, totaling four hits and one walk in five trips to the plate, driving in four runs in the game. Sinquefield tripled in the first inning, scoring two to get the Nighthawks on the board, and doubled in the seventh to add another two insurance runs.
Mooney also assisted on the offensive end of the comeback, earning three hits and scoring three times, driving in one run on the day.
Hannah Forehand finished with two RBIs and two hits, driving in the winning run in the seventh after reaching on a fielder's choice.
Four runs came across in the seventh in a rally started by a double by
Georgia Blair to lead off the inning, followed by
Gracie Mixson's single to tie it at 7-7.
North Georgia 6, GCSU 0
Denton's day highlighted the second game, along with a four-run third inning by the Nighthawks. Denton threw seven scoreless innings, striking out four and allowing just two hits. The four-run inning kicked off the scoring for UNG, with Forehand launching a three-run shot to make it a 4-0 game.
Forehand finished the day with five RBIs on two hits, making her swings count in both games.
Jolie Lester had two hits in the leadoff spot finishing as the only Nighthawk with two hits in the second game.
Madi Perry,
Marycille Brumby and Sinquefield joined Forehand in the RBI category, each finishing with one. The Nighthawks move to 43-4 overall and 21-2 in PBC play after the win, earning their 42nd win of the season in the first game on Jackie Robinson Day.
Next Up
The Nighthawks wrap up the series against GCSU tomorrow (Apr. 16) at 1:00 p.m., looking to take their seventh series sweep this season.
