DAHLONEGA – The No. 8 University of North Georgia (UNG) softball team closed out its Peach Belt Conference (PBC) series with a 4-2 win over Flagler on Saturday afternoon to lock up the third conference sweep of the season.
Both squads found some early offensive production, as Flagler struck first with an RBI single to right field to take the lead. The Nighthawks had an immediate answer in the bottom frame with a leadoff triple by Sydnee Reaves and an RBI single from Jenna Miles to send her home and knot the score once again.
Chloe Poss kept the momentum on North Georgia's side in the circle, working through just seven Saint bats through the second and third innings. Miles carried that into the home half of the inning, as she laid down a leadoff bunt and outran the throw to first. Carleigh Knowles kept thing rolling by roping an RBI double to centerfield to send Miles home and give North Georgia the lead.
In the top of the fifth, the Saints tried to string together some rhythm up to bat, and that appeared to be the case, as Ryleigh Hall fired a line drive to second base in the leadoff position. Miles denied the base hit, lunging through the air to make the highlight catch and keep traffic off the bases.
North Georgia found some insurance in the bottom frame, as Reaves launched her second home run of the series to right field to extend the lead to two. With a pair of outs on the board, the Nighthawks rallied for one more run off an RBI single from Morgan Martin to cushion the advantage at three.
Flagler cut the lead in half with an RBI double in the top of the sixth and threatened to put up more runs in the top of the seventh, but Caroline Conner shut down any chances of a Saints comeback with a pair of groundouts to seal the deal.
Poss picked up her 20th win this season, going six innings in the circle while giving up five hits, a pair of runs and recording eight strikeouts for the fifth time this year. The senior pitcher closed out the weekend with 15 strikeouts, tying her personal record for the most in a PBC series this season.
Miles and Reaves led the Nighthawks at the plate with two hits each and an RBI on the afternoon. Reaves added to her league-leading home run totals with her 14th blast of the season.
Hannah Smith paced the Saints (10-32, 6-15 PBC) going 2-4 with an RBI.
The Nighthawks look to bring this momentum into a midweek matchup with Miles on Tuesday, Apr. 21. First pitch for game one of the doubleheader is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Bill Noble Park.
