GULF SHORES, Ala. – The top-ranked University of North Georgia softball team posted another pair of wins on the second day of the Gulf Shores Invitational. North Georgia defeated Valdosta State 4-2 before posting an 11-2 win over West Alabama in five innings.
No. 1 North Georgia 4, Valdosta State 2
In the opener, North Georgia jumped out to a 4-0 lead with a single run in the first and three in the fourth before holding off a late Blazer rally for the team's third win of the season.
Kristen Davis (2-0) scattered six hits over five innings as she allowed just one run.
Mariah Wicker opened the scoring in the bottom of the first with a triple on which she scored courtesy of a throwing error. In the fourth, Gracie Mixon belted a bases-loaded double down the left field line to plate three Nighthawks and push the UNG lead to 4-0.
An error and back-to-back singles loaded the bases for the Blazers in the top of the sixth as a hit batsmen plated the first run of the game for VSU. The Blazers were unable to cut the deficit any further as
Sophie Mooney got out of the jam with a pop out, fielder's choice and a strikeout and would go on to earn her first save of the season.
Wicker was the lone Nighthawk to record multiple hits with a 2-for-3 performance from the plate.
No. 1 North Georgia 11, West Alabama 2 (6)
In the second game, North Georgia plated five runs in both the first and third innings en route to an 11-2 run-rule win over West Alabama in five innings.
Tybee Denton earned her second victory of the season in the circle with two and two thirds innings of work striking out four and allowing just one hit.
Delaney Heaberlin tossed the final two and a third scoreless innings.
Mooney led the Nighthawk offense at the plate going 3-for-4 with three runs scored and three RBIs.
Georgia Blair and
Katie Ward also recorded multiple hit games with Blair also knocking in three runs.
North Georgia will wrap up the three-day event tomorrow (Sunday) when the Nighthawks take on No. 18 Saint Leo (11:00 a.m.) and Lubbock Christian (1:30 p.m.) at the Gulf Shores Sportsplex.
