Cochran, Ga. – In the inaugural meeting between the No. 8 University of North Georgia (UNG) softball team and Middle Georgia, the Nighthawks cruised to an 8-0 shutout over the Knights on Saturday evening. 

North Georgia (37-8, 17-5 PBC) opened the series with a statement, as Carleigh Knowles blasted a two-run homer in the top of the first to give North Georgia an early 2-0 advantage.  

From the jump, Chloe Poss set the tone in the circle, working multiple 1-2-3 innings to keep the Knights at bay.  

In the bottom of the fourth, the Nighthawks left the yard once again. A leadoff single up the middle from Journey Roberts set the stage for Sydnee Reaves to launch her league-leading 15th home run of the season to double the lead 4-0.  

The Nighthawks posted their best inning of the day in the fifth, plating four runs in a two-out rally to put the game out of reach for Middle Georgia. 

Ava Lunsford cushioned UNG's lead with a two-RBI double into left field to score Roberts and Kayla Berry. Knowles added to her stellar day at the plate by roping a two-RBI double of her own up the left field line to put the Nighthawks in run-rule territory. 

Poss closed the door on the Knights in the bottom of the fifth with three-straight strikeouts to cap off her standout performance. The Thomson, Ga. native secured her 21st win of the year in one of the best outings of her senior season. Poss went five scoreless innings with eight strikeouts and was a leadoff single away from tossing a no-hitter. 

Knowles led the Nighthawks at the plate with three hits and a season-high four RBI.  

Reaves also turned in another terrific performance, finishing 2-3 with two RBI, a walk and three runs scored. The senior centerfielder continues to rewrite the record books, as her long bomb moved her into fourth place for the most home runs in a single season in program history. 

North Georgia can lock up the series tomorrow afternoon with one win in the doubleheader. First pitch for game two of the series is scheduled for noon.