AMERICUS, Ga. - The No. 5 University of North Georgia (UNG) softball team used a late-game rally in the opener and an explosive offensive inning in game two to complete a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader sweep of Georgia Southwestern on Saturday.
Game One: North Georgia 7, Georgia Southwestern 5
North Georgia erased a late deficit with a three-run rally over the final two innings to secure a 7-5 win in the opener.
After Georgia Southwestern struck first on a solo home run in the opening inning, the Nighthawks answered in the second, capitalizing on a defensive miscue before a sacrifice fly from
Sydnee Reaves tied the game at 1-1 and gave North Georgia a 2-1 edge.
The Hurricanes regained momentum with a two-run homer in the fourth and added another two-run shot in the fifth to take a 5-4 lead.
The Nighthawks responded in the sixth, beginning with a bunt RBI single from
Carleigh Knowles to tie the game. A sacrifice fly from
Morgan Martin followed, plating the go-ahead run. The Nighthawks added an insurance run in the seventh on an RBI single from Reaves.
Reaves finished 2-for-4 with two RBI, while
Ava Lunsford went a perfect 2-for-2 with an RBI.
Caroline Conner (5-1) earned the win in relief, tossing two innings, while
Chloe Poss recorded the save with two shutout innings to close the game.
Game Two: North Georgia 11, Georgia Southwestern 3 (5 innings)
North Georgia's offense erupted for eight runs in the second inning to power an 11-3 run-rule victory in game two.
The Nighthawks sent 11 batters to the plate in the second, stringing together timely hits and taking advantage of defensive errors.
Ava Lunsford opened the scoring with an RBI single before
Kaitlyn Johnson added an RBI groundout.
Journey Roberts followed with an RBI double, and
Jenna Miles and
Marycille Brumby each drove in runs during the rally.
Morgan Martin delivered the biggest blow of the inning with a three-run home run to right-center, extending the lead to 8-0.
North Georgia continued to add on in the fourth with more production from
Carleigh Knowles and Brumby before pushing the lead to 11-1 in the fifth on an RBI single from
Emma Hare.
Knowles, Brumby and Martin each recorded two hits and combined for six RBI, while every Nighthawk who appeared at the plate recorded at least one hit.
Chloe Poss (17-2) earned the win, allowing two runs over five innings while striking out three. She started the game, briefly exited in the fifth, and re-entered to record the final three outs.
North Georgia returns to action April 3-4, hosting USC Beaufort for a PBC series at Haines & Carolyn Hill Stadium.
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