DAHLONEGA – The No. 8 University of North Georgia softball team took down Flagler in its second game of the 2024 Peach Belt Conference Softball Tournament 9-4 at Haines & Carolyn Hill Stadium at Lynn Cottrell Park Saturday afternoon.
With the win, the Nighthawks advanced to the final stages of the double elimination tournament's opening weekend. They need one win tomorrow, Sunday, Apr. 28 to advance to the championship round.
It was a five-run second inning that helped propel UNG to the win behind the stellar start in the circle from senior pitcher Kristen Davis.
While Davis was busy striking out four of her first six batters faced, her offense came to life in the bottom of the second frame.
Junior designated player Grayson Perry served as the nail in the coffin yesterday in UNG's opening game in the tournament with a grand slam to break the game with Augusta open. On Saturday, she served as the spark against Flagler.
After a double from sophomore first baseman Marycille Brumby led off the frame, Perry singled to quickly bring Brumby home and make it 1-0.
Perry was then brought home four batters later on a single from sophomore outfielder Sydney Blair. Then, it was senior catcher Georgia Blair who pleased Nighthawk fans with an all too familiar sight.
She blasted her team-leading 16th home run of the year over the center field wall to score three runs and make it 5-0 in favor of UNG.
Flagler would get a pair of runs back on a home run from center fielder Paige Maseda in the next inning, making it 5-2.
A single from senior third baseman would score pinch runner and fellow senior Mariah Wicker in the bottom half of the frame to put the Nighthawks up four runs.
Mixson helped add to the lead later in the inning as well. After a wild pitch scored Brumby to make it 7-2, Mixson came home thanks to a single from junior shortstop Rylie Moody to extend the advantage to 8-2.
Georgia Blair then led off the bottom of the sixth with a double for her second extra base hit of the day. Senior center fielder Mallory Parker traded places with Blair after doubling herself and bringing around UNG's ninth run of the game.
Flagler got its final two runs in the top of the seventh off a two-run, pinch hit homer from Kiersten James. Senior pitcher Tybee Denton would eventually shut the door on the Saints after Davis went 6.2 innings in a tremendous start.
Davis allowed four runs on six scattered hits in her first postseason appearance of the season. The 2024 PBC All-Conference Second Team selection walked only three batters while striking out nine, the most in a game for her since Mar. 11 against Augusta.
With UNG handing Flagler its first loss of the tournament, the Saints were forced to play in an elimination game later in the day against fifth-seeded USC Aiken. Fourth-seeded Flagler was able to pull out the win for the second time in as many days against the Pacers. Thus, the Saints get one more shot at UNG on the final day of the quarterfinal weekend tomorrow.
Should Flagler, who handed the Nighthawks their first conference loss of the season back on Mar. 23, win the 12 p.m. game against UNG on Sunday, the two teams will play an elimination game 30 minutes after game one's completion. Should the Nighthawks win the first game, a second game would not be necessary and UNG would prepare for the PBC Championship in Dahlonega next weekend.
Sunday's first game is scheduled for 12 p.m. from Haines & Carolyn Hill Stadium and can be watched live on the Peach Belt Sports Network.
