DAHLONEGA – The No. 1 University of North Georgia softball team only needed one run to win the Peach Belt Conference series against Flagler Sunday afternoon. A solo home run from junior infielder Grayson Perry was the difference in the 1-0 series finale victory from Haines & Carolyn Hill Stadium at Lynn Cottrell Park.
After losing the first game of a double header on Saturday, UNG entered Sunday's at risk of losing its first series of the season. The Nighthawks have not lost a series outright since Apr. 9, 2023. With the pressure on, head coach Mike Davenport turned senior pitcher Tybee Denton to start the game in the circle.
Despite season long numbers that lead multiple categories in the Peach Belt and NCAA, the one-two combination of Denton and fellow senior pitcher Kristen Davis has not been as successful in the last few games as compared to early in the season.
After a 5-3 loss on Saturday in which Davis conceded all five Flagler runs, Denton had to right the ship on Sunday. She did just that with another stellar performance.
In seven complete innings, Denton allowed just one hit and struck out seven Saints hitters. She didn't give up her first hit of the game until the fifth inning.
The performance is Denton's 12th of the year in which she allowed just three or less hits and her fourth such outing with only one hit or less. It's also Denton's 11th performance with seven or more strikeouts in a game.
With Denton cruising in the circle, minimal offense from the Nighthawks was enough for the win. The game's lone run came in the second inning as Perry launched her second home run of the season over the right center field wall.
With the win, UNG moves to 32-4 overall with a 14-1 mark in conference play.
A seven-game road trip now awaits the Nighthawks as they will not return home to The Hill until Apr. 10.
First on the road stretch is a non-conference, midweek double header at Lee on Wednesday, Mar. 27 at 1 p.m. The game will be played at Chattanooga's Frost Stadium, site of the 2023 NCAA Division II Championship.
