COLUMBUS, Ga. – The No. 2 University of North Georgia softball team took a pair of close games in a doubleheader against second place Columbus State Saturday afternoon. With the two wins, the Nighthawks are now 37-5 this season with a 16-1 record in Peach Belt Conference play. 

With five home runs in total over the course of both games, the Nighthawks powered their way past CSU for two victories to put themselves three and a half games in front of the Cougars.

UNG will face the Cougars for the series finale from Columbus, Ga. on Sunday, Apr. 7 at 1 p.m. before returning to Haines & Carolyn Hill Stadium at Lynn Cottrell Park for a non-conference doubleheader against Alabama Huntsville. 

Game 1: Nighthawks def. Cougars, 5-4

Senior Tybee Denton started in the circle for the Nighthawks in game one. For the fifth time this season and first time since Mar. 2, she recorded double digit strikeouts, sending down 10 Cougar batters in her nation leading 19th win. 

Denton did allow four runs (two earned) which started in the first inning after a bases loaded walk put CSU in front 1-0 early. 

The Nighthawks took their first lead of the day in the third inning on back-to-back home runs from senior infielder Sophie Mooney and senior catcher Georgia Blair. Mooney's third long ball of the year was a two-run shot plating sophomore infielder Katie Ward. 

The Cougars earned a run back in the fourth inning to make it 3-2. 

Then in the fifth, UNG put up another pair of runs, sparked by an RBI double from Ward. 

Trailing 5-2 entering the sixth inning, CSU put forth a strong comeback effort, scoring a pair of runs in the frame to make it 5-4. Denton eventually worked out of the inning by striking out Cougar junior infielder Madison Norrell. 

Then in the seventh, Denton retired the CSU hitters in order, ending the game with her 10th and final strikeout 

Game 2: Nighthawks def. Cougars, 7-4

It was senior Kristen Davis' turn in the circle in game two and she was exceptional in leading the Nighthawks to the victory. Davis allowed four runs and four hits in the game, all of which came in the fourth inning. Besides that lone rough frame, she was unhittable the rest of the day as she struck out seven batters and walked none in her 16th win of the season. 

The Nighthawks utilized the long ball again to pull into a 4-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning. 

After an RBI double from senior outfielder Mariah Wicker got the scoring started in the third inning in which UNG put up two runs, junior infielder Rylie Moody launched her fourth home run of the season to bring home two runs. 

CSU quickly got back into the game in the home half of the inning after failing to record a base runner thus far against Davis. A single, two doubles and a home run did the damage in the frame as the Cougars tied it up at 4-4. 

Both teams would then be held scoreless until the game's final inning. 

It was then that the Nighthawks went on a two out rally to pull away for the win. After Moody and Ward each recorded contact outs to lead things off, sophomore first baseman Marycille Brumby blasted her first career home run to give her team a 5-4 advantage.

Two pitchers later, UNG's home run leader Blair mashed her ninth bomb of the season to give the Nighthawks back-to-back home runs for the second time in the day. The solo shot put UNG in front 6-4.

Then senior outfielder Madison Simmons reached after being hit by a pitch. Head coach Mike Davenport pinch ran Wicker for Simmons. That decision would prove fruitful as Wicker came home to score in the next at bat. As she stole second base, the ball sailed into centerfield and Wicker bounded for third. The throw from center field was then errant as well, sending Wicker to the plate, securing a three-run lead. 

Davis then dazzled in the final inning with a one-two-three frame ending in back-to-back strikeouts to earn the win.