CHATTANOOGA – Moving one win away from capturing the program's second NCAA Division II National Championship, the No. 2 University of North Georgia softball team defeated No. 8 Grand Valley State (48-7) 7-3, using a five-run fifth inning to take a firm grasp on the series holding a 1-0 series lead heading into the final day of the season. It was the 63rd win for the Nighthawks this season, breaking the all-time single season wins record set in 2018.
Tybee Denton (W, 21-2) settled in after giving up three runs in the first two innings, shutting down the Laker lineup in the next three frames to make way for a
Sophie Mooney (S, 3) relief appearance as the duo took advantage of the rally from the Nighthawk lineup. Denton finished with five and one-third innings pitched, allowing three runs.
Mooney continued to lock things down in the late innings, pitching the final one and two-thirds, allowing no runs and no hits as the defense helped UNG out of a jam in the sixth by way of a 4-6-2 double play.
A suspected pitcher's duel turned into just the opposite as both squads plated two runs in the first inning before GVSU scratched across a run in the second to take a 3-2 lead. The fifth inning was the knockout punch for the North Georgia bats as
Olivia Sinquefield recorded her third RBI of the game with an infield single behind the pitcher to tie the game at three.
That would be just the beginning for UNG as
Sydney Blair cleared the bases with a two-RBI triple to give the Nighthawks a 5-3 lead.
Mariah Wicker added the exclamation point on the inning with a two-run blast to the deepest part of the field, plating
Sydney Blair and herself to take a commanding 7-3 lead.
Jolie Lester, Sinquefield and
Georgia Blair led the team offensively, each garnering two hits apiece, with Sinquefield's three RBIs leading the team in the run production category.
Sydney Blair and Wicker added two RBIs each to the cause, all four coming in the fifth-inning rally.
Madi Perry was a frequent visitor to the basepaths, earning three walks and scoring twice.
Next Up
North Georgia (63-7) will play tomorrow (May 31) with the second game of the series set to begin at 12:00 p.m. at Frost Stadium at Warner Park, with an if-necessary game scheduled to follow 30 minutes later.
