DAHLONEGA – The No. 5 University of North Georgia (UNG) softball team delivered a dominant all-around showing on Saturday afternoon with 10-0 and 6-0 shutout victories over USC Aiken to pick up the series sweep at Haines & Carolyn Hill Stadium.
Game 1: No. 5 North Georgia 10, USC Aiken 0 (5 innings)
North Georgia struck first in the bottom of the first inning as Marycille Brumby delivered an RBI double to give the Nighthawks an early 1-0 lead.
After Lila Mullinax retired the Pacers in order in the top of the second, the Nighthawk offense erupted for five runs on five hits in the home half of the inning. Sydnee Reaves showed strong plate discipline, drawing a bases-loaded walk to bring home the second run of the game for UNG.
Jenna Miles followed with an RBI ground out to plate another run, and Carliegh Knowles recorded her second hit of the day with a two-RBI knock that extended the advantage to 5-0.
Knowles later took advantage of a USC Aiken error in right field and came around to score as the Nighthawks exited the inning with a 6-0 lead.
The Pacers threatened in both the third and fourth innings, putting runners in scoring position in each frame, but Mullinax worked out of trouble both times to keep USC Aiken off the scoreboard.
North Georgia added to its lead in the bottom of the fourth when Reaves blasted her second home run of the series. Morgan Martin and Avery Moffitt combined to drive in three more runs in the inning, pushing the Nighthawks into run-rule territory.
With one out in the top of the fifth, Journey Roberts showcased her athleticism with a defensive gem, recording the out at third before firing to first to complete a double play and secure the series win for North Georgia.
Knowles, Martin and Kaitlyn Johnson each recorded multi-hit performances in the win, while Reaves launched her seventh home run of the season.
Mullinax earned her sixth win of the year, continuing an impressive freshman campaign. The right-handed pitcher only gave up one hit in the shutout victory.
Game 2: No. 5 North Georgia 6, USC Aiken 0
Reaves stayed hot in the series finale, launching her third home run of the weekend to lead off the bottom of the first.
A bases-loaded walk from Kayla Berry and a sacrifice fly from Ava Lunsford later in the inning brought home two more runs as the Nighthawks jumped out to a 3-0 lead.
Chloe Poss kept the Pacers in check all afternoon, facing four batters or less in each of the first five innings.
Brumby added another highlight to her senior season with an inside the park home run in the bottom of the fifth to cushion UNG's lead. Berry and Martin added a pair of base knocks across the fifth and sixth frames to keep the pressure on.
Caroline Conner closed out the game for North Georgia in the top of the seventh with a pair of strikeouts to keep USC Aiken scoreless for the third-straight game.
Martin led the way for the Nighthawks with a 2-3 performance at the plate in the series finale. Reaves posted one of her best series of the season, finishing with a home run in each game to go along with four RBI and four runs scored.
Poss turned in another stellar performance against the Pacers with six strikeouts while only giving up four hits. Across the series, Poss added 15 strikeouts, a complete game and a pair of wins to her season totals.
The Nighthawks (23-4, 5-1 PBC) return to action next weekend with a conference series at Lander. First pitch for the opener is set for Friday, Mar. 20 at 6 p.m. in Greenwood, S.C.
