DAHLONEGA – The No. 7 University of North Georgia (UNG) softball team wrapped up the 2026 regular season in exciting fashion, as Sydnee Reaves launched a walkoff home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to secure a 6-3 win over Augusta on Sunday afternoon.
After clinching the program's 12th-consecutive Peach Belt Conference (PBC) Regular Season Title yesterday, the Nighthawks (42-8, 22-5 PBC) were faced with a battle against Augusta (23-28, 12-15 PBC) in the regular season finale. North Georgia refused to back down in the team's fifth conference series sweep and ninth win in a row.
Chloe Poss got the day started by working a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the second. Just moments later, Poss stepped into the batter's box in the home half of the inning and laced an RBI single to centerfield to put the Nighthawks out in front.
The Jaguars had an answer the next inning with an RBI double to left field, knotting the score at 1-1.
The Nighthawks broke through in the fourth to recapture the lead from Augusta. Journey Roberts paid off a leadoff double from Morgan Martin by sending her home on an RBI single to put UNG back in control.
Much like the first two games of the series, the two-out rally remained true for the finale. Reaves kept things moving in the fourth, as she roped a single to second base and flashed her speed to outrun the throw to first and send Poss home to give North Georgia a two-run cushion.
With the game still in reach, the Jaguars continued to fight and clawed away at the UNG lead. Chesney Miles came around to score by beating a throw home in the top of the fifth, and Kelsea Moody stepped up and delivered a big RBI groundout in the top of the seventh to tie the game and keep Augusta's hopes alive.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Nighthawks put some traffic on the bases, as Kayla Berry drew a leadoff walk and Roberts connected on a single to right field. However, after two fly outs in the infield, North Georgia was down to its final chance in the seventh with the batting order flipping back over to Reaves.
Reaves, who has been the best home-run hitter in the PBC this year and has been a catalyst for the Nighthawks in just about every two-out rally this weekend, added another highlight to her senior season. After taking a ball on her first pitch, Reaves crushed her 17th homer to the parking lot beyond right field and was mobbed by her smiling teammates at home plate to celebrate the walkoff win.
The Montevallo, Ala. native was the x-factor for the Nighthawks, finishing the game 3-4 at the plate with a game-high four RBI. Reaves wrapped up the series with eight hits, nine RBI, two runs scored and a pair of game-changing home runs.
After five solid innings in the circle from Poss, Lila Mullinax came in and locked up her tenth win of the season, closing out the game while only letting up two hits and one run.
Victoria Oropeza led the Jaguars with a 3-4 performance at the plate.
The Nighthawks find themselves in familiar territory once again and will enter the 2026 Peach Belt Conference Tournament as the top seed. North Georgia will play host to the single-elimination tournament next weekend, starting on Friday, May 8 at Haines & Carolyn Hill Stadium.
