CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – A 71-game journey ends with the University of North Georgia softball team as 2023 NCAA Division II National Champions. The Nighthawks have captured the program's second National Championship, defeating Grand Valley State (48-8) 3-0 at Frost Stadium at Warner Park, etching their name into North Georgia history.
Kristen Davis (W, 20-1) was a force inside the circle once again, throwing a complete game shutout with the UNG defense continuing to make plays behind her. Davis finished the day with five hits and no runs allowed.
At the plate, some savvy baserunning and timely hitting gave the Nighthawks an advantage.
Hannah Forehand led the way with two hits, followed by
Sophie Mooney and
Sydney Blair, who drove in one run each.
The Nighthawks (64-7) scored once in the third and twice in the fourth, with Mooney's left-field single driving in
Jolie Lester opening up the scoring before
Sydney Blair drove in Forehand in the fourth.
Olivia Sinquefield capped off the scoring with a dash for the plate after a dropped third strike giving North Georgia one more run of a cushion heading into the final three frames.
UNG adds another win to the all-time single-season program record, earning 64 wins in 71 games, losing just once in NCAA postseason play. It is the third NCAA National Championship in school history.
