DAHLONEGA – The No. 2 University of North Georgia softball rallied for one of its most thrilling wins of the season in game two of a doubleheader to split against Alabama Huntsville Wednesday afternoon. In their return to Haines & Carolyn Hill Stadium at Lynn Cottrell Park, the Nighthawks earned a split and now stand at 39-6 overall this season.
After dropping the first game 2-1 against a Chargers team who received votes in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) rankings last week, UNG rallied from down three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning in game two to soar back and win 7-6.
Now the Nighthawks look ahead to the opportunity to clinch the Peach Belt Conference regular season championship this weekend. The magic number for UNG is just one win to clinch the program's 18th PBC regular season title and ninth in the last 10 seasons (the 2020 season did not have a PBC champion due to COVID-19).
Game 1: Chargers def. Nighthawks, 2-1
As game one trekked on into the late innings, it was evident that whichever team was able to sneak a few runs past the opposing starter was going to have a good chance to win the game.
Nighthawk senior pitcher Kristen Davis and Huntsville senior starter Josie Thompson dueled the entirety of the game, seemingly one-upping each other inning after inning.
Davis worked out of a bases loaded jam in the first while Thompson gave up a lead off single but then struck out two of the next three to retire the side.
Davis responded with a one-two-three inning in the second, recording a pair of strikeouts.
From the bottom of the first inning to the bottom of the third, the two starters combined to retire 13 consecutive batters before allowing a base runner.
As the game entered the sixth inning, UNG and the Chargers had combined for just three hits in total.
Finally, UAH broke through in the sixth inning after loading the bases for a second time against Davis. This time, senior catcher Jessica Edde singled to right center to bring home a pair of runs, the first for either side in the contest.
Trailing 2-0, the Nighthawks entered the last of the seventh needing a comeback, but only one base runner would bring the tying run to the plate.
They got that necessary base runner when senior third baseman Gracie Mixson led off the frame with a single. Sophomore second baseman Katie Ward singled again two batters later. UNG had the winning run in the batter's box.
Redshirt freshman infielder Tagen Levao-Maisonet had been subbed into the game earlier, and came up to bat for the first time with two on and one out. She walked to load the bases for UNG's home run leader and veteran catcher, Georgia Blair.
Disaster nearly struck when Blair grounded the ball right to Huntsville's second baseman as a possible double play was in order. However, the Charger defender collided with her teammate at shortstop while attempting to step on second base, only resulting in one out on the play.
Mixson came home to score and the Nighthawks were given one more chance to win the game.
With the corners occupied and two outs, senior outfielder Mallory Parker popped up to end the game.
The loss marks UNG's fifth this season by two runs or less and the third time they've lost while being held to just one run. Thompson went seven complete innings for UAH, allowing just the one run on five hits while striking out six batters for her 10th win of the year.
Despite suffering the loss, Davis (16-4) only allowed four hits and struck out eight in a stellar performance in the circle.
Game 2: Nighthawks def. Chargers, 7-6
Despite early run scoring for both teams in the second game, it felt like it was going to be more of the same from game one.
The Chargers took a lead late while the Nighthawks struggled to find any sort of rhythm offensively.
Each team scored a lone run in the first two innings, headlined by Mixson's third home run of the year in the second inning to make it 2-2.
That score held until the fourth when UAH retook the lead off a solo shot from freshman infielder Kylee Smith. The Chargers grew the lead in the fifth with another solo bomb, this time from junior Sadie Thompson.
Sophomore infielder Alexa Douthitt doubled to bring home a pair of runs in the sixth inning, giving UAH a 6-2 lead as it appeared to be running away with a sweep.
Parker raised the spirits of the Nighthawk faithful in the bottom half of the frame with a solo homer, her fifth this season.
After a scoreless top of the seventh inning, the Chargers needed just three outs to escape Dahlonega with a sweep.
The inning started with a big time double from Ward in the lead off spot. Freshman outfielder Kaitlyn Johnson reached on an error in the next at bat. Suddenly, UNG had the tying run at the plate. As was the case in game one, Blair had another crack at being the hero for the Nighthawks.
This time, she did not miss.
In a 1-1 count, Blair got a pitch up and in on the plate that she absolutely demolished. The Nighthawks had just tied the game in the bottom of the seventh on an absolute no doubter from Blair, her 10th of the year.
Parker reached in the next at bat after being hit by a pitch. Then, the Chargers made a pitching change to bring starter Grace O'Berry back in the game.
Parker tried to score from second on a single to left field from sophomore infielder Chloe Poss in the next at bat. However, she was cut down at the plate for the first out in the inning to keep the hopes alive for UAH.
Heads up base running from Poss landed her at second base after her knock as Davenport pinch ran sophomore outfielder Caroline Branch. On a deep foul out to right field in the next at bat, Branch tagged up and advanced to third.
Sophomore first baseman Marycille Brumby dug into the batter's box, needing a base hit to win it for UNG.
As she bounced the ball up the middle towards second base, UAH junior Lawren Hayes dove up the middle to stop the ball. However, she bobbled it before throwing to first and with Brumby hustling down the line, there was no chance to make the play. Branch scored and the UNG dugout poured onto the field to mob Brumby after the walk off base hit.
