DAHLONEGA – An offensive onslaught in both games Thursday led to the No. 1 University of North Georgia softball team's pair of wins in a non-conference doubleheader over Emmanuel. With the wins, the Nighthawks have now won 13 consecutive games. It's currently the fourth longest active winning streak in NCAA Division II.
UNG took down the Lions 11-4 in the first game propelled by a five-run fourth inning to the victory. In game two, senior pitcher Tybee Denton allowed just three hits in a five-inning complete game outing while the offense bombed four home runs over the walls of Haines & Carolyn Hill Stadium at Lynn Cottrell Park en route to an 11-0 victory.
Game 1: Nighthawks def. Lions, 11-4
Not a single UNG hitter had more than one hit in game one, but nine different hitters recorded a hit and four of them batted multiple runs in to contribute to the win.
After senior pitcher Kristen Davis breezed through the first three innings, her team supported her with some offense in the bottom of the third.
Senior outfielder Mariah Wicker opened the gates with a two-run double, scoring senior catcher Georgia Blair and senior third baseman Gracie Mixson.
Emmanuel made things interesting the next half inning with a sacrifice fly and an RBI single to pull within a run at 3-2. However, it was in the fourth inning themselves when the Nighthawks put their foot on the pedal.
After sophomore outfielder Sydney Blair reached on an error, Mixson drove her in with her first triple of the season. Two batters later, junior outfielder Jolie Lester brought Mixson home with a single to make it 5-2.
Extremely aggressive base running led to UNG's sixth run as junior shortstop Rylie Moody tagged from third and beat the throw home on a routine pop up to second base just beyond the infield dirt from Wicker.
After a walk from redshirt freshman second baseman Tagen Levao-Maisonet, senior outfielder Mallory Parker roped a double to left center scoring Lester and Levao-Maisonet, giving UNG an 8-2 advantage. Levao-Maisonet would add the final runs of the game for the Nighthawks just two innings later with her first career home run, a two-run blast deep to left field.
After a 3-for-11 and five RBI performance last weekend at USC Aiken, Levao-Maisonet was named the Peach Belt Conference Freshman of the Week for the first time in her career. The McDonough, Ga. native is now hitting .263 on the season with 12 RBIs to her name.
Game 2: Nighthawks def. Lions, 11-0 (5 Inn.)
It was a tag team effort of offense and defense that led to UNG's 11-0 shutout in game two of the evening. Denton was lights out in the circle yet again, limiting Emmanuel to just three hits while striking out four batters in just five innings.
The Nighthawks scored in every inning on offense, utilizing six extra base hits to bring home seven of UNG's 11 runs. The first of which belonged to freshman outfielder Kaitlyn Johnson. Roping the third double of her career, Johnson scored Lester to make it 1-0 early.
In the second inning, Lester scored again. This time she blissfully jogged home as Wicker belted her second home run of the season over the center field wall.
Georgia Blair also displayed her home run trot in the next at bat, going back-to-back with Wicker for her team-leading fifth long ball of the year. This one, a no doubt blast that sailed well over the left field wall. After two innings, the Nighthawks led 5-0.
The next time up, it was sophomore infielder Katie Ward's turn to join the power party. Ward powered the first home run of her career to lead off the third inning. Her long ball capped off a string in which UNG launched three home runs in a five batter span.
Lester made it 8-0 later in the inning with a two-run single. Lester combined to go 3-for-6 (.500) on the day with three RBIs and two stolen bases.
Ward's offensive day was not done when she came back up in the fourth inning. A double to left center not only scored another run for the Nighthawks, but it solidified the first three-hit game in Ward's career and the first multi extra base hit performance of her young career.
The final home run of the day came when sophomore infielder Chloe Poss connected her first career home run. This deep shot towered over the left field wall towards the foul pole to bring home a pair of runs and make it 11-0.
Now the Nighthawks prepare to return to PBC play with a three-game home series against Augusta. After rain caused a schedule change, the series will start with a doubleheader on Sunday, Mar. 10. Game one will begin at 2 p.m. as game two is slated to take place shortly after around 4 p.m. The series' final game will commence the next day on Monday, Mar. 11 at 12 p.m.
