DAHLONEGA – Another day resulted in another 8-0 victory for the No. 2 University of North Georgia softball team, this time defeating No. 21 Columbus State (45-16) in five innings to advance to the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional #1 championship game at Haines & Carolyn Hill Stadium at Lynn Cottrell Park.
A weather delay in the second inning was the only bump in the road for the Nighthawks as
Tybee Denton (W, 18-1) was a force inside the circle, backed by a potent offensive attack for UNG.
Scoring once in the first inning and four times in the second, North Georgia jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead adding two in the fourth and one in the fifth to complete the run-rule victory.
Denton allowed just one hit in her complete game shutout over the Cougars, coming up clutch in key moments as the Cougars left nine runners on base. Peach Belt Conference tournament MVP
Mariah Wicker kept rolling, earning three hits in three at-bats, driving in one run and scoring twice.
Jolie Lester,
Sophie Mooney and
Gracie Mixson joined Wicker in the mult-hit club, each recording two hits and one RBI. Lester's single in the second inning added to the four-run rally, driving in Wicker and advancing Mixson to third, scoring on the play by way of a Columbus State error. Mooney capped off the inning with a single of her own to score Lester for the fourth run of the inning.
Next Up
The Nighthawks (56-6) await their Southeast Regional #1 championship opponent as Lincoln Memorial, King and Columbus State play in elimination games for a chance to advance to the championship on Saturday (May 13).
