DAHLONEGA – The No. 8 University of North Georgia (UNG) softball team took down Columbus State (CSU) 4-1 in the first of a three-game home series at Haines & Carolyn Hill Stadium at Lynn Cottrell Park on Friday.
The Nighthawks (35-8, 14-2 Peach Belt) now hold a four-game lead in the Peach Belt Conference with eight games to play this season after the victory over the Cougars (28-20, 7-9 Peach Belt).
UNG had to overcome an early 1-0 deficit after junior starting pitcher
Chloe Poss hit a batter with the bases loaded in the second inning.
Poss immediately redeemed herself in the bottom of the inning at the plate with a solo home run to tie the game at 1-1. The blast to left center field marked her first of the season.
Poss was fantastic in the circle the rest of the game as she pitched a complete seven innings allowing just one run on two hits with two walks and 10 strikeouts.
In the third inning, senior shortstop
Rylie Moody helped the Nighthawks to their first lead in the game with an RBI groundout to make it 2-1 in UNG's favor.
The game remained tight as it entered the late innings. With a one-run lead in the bottom of the sixth, back-to-back singles from Moody and junior outfielder
Natalie Ray put a pair of runners on base with nobody out.
Both Moody and Ray advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch before Knowles reached on a fielder's choice ground ball back to short in which Moody was tagged out at the plate.
With runners at the corners in the next at bat, Knowles darted away from first in an attempt to steal second base. An errant throw from the CSU catcher Nova Wright allowed Knowles to take third and Ray to come home to make it 3-1.
Poss then came through in the clutch again as she dribbled a single back up the middle to score Knowles for a key insurance run.
In the top of the seventh, Poss retired the Cougars in order which included her 10th strikeout of the game to cement the win.
Along with Poss' domination in the circle, she led the UNG offense at the plate in a low-run scoring affair by going 2-for-3 with a homer and two RBIs.
The Nighthawks will look to take the series tomorrow, Saturday, April 12 in a doubleheader. First pitch in game one is set for 12 p.m. after UNG will celebrate Senior Day at Haines & Carolyn Hill Stadium.
