3/26/17
PEMBROKE, N.C. – University of North Georgia freshmen Kylee Smith and Amber Johns both tossed complete game shutouts in Sunday afternoon’s doubleheader sweep of Augusta at Jaguar Field. The Nighthawks improve to 29-9 on the season and are now 9-4 in the Peach Belt Conference.
GAME ONE
Stephanie Hartness scored the first run of the day in the top of the fourth after earning a leadoff walk and advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt, Hartness went to third after tagging up on a fly out to right and came in to score on an error on the play at third.
Hartness came across again in the top of the sixth after reaching on an infield single, she came all the way around to score on an RBI double to right by Alisia Frierson.
Smith (17-3) allowed just four hits and one walk in her seven innings of work while striking out six.
GAME TWO
The Nighthawks put together a two-out rally in the bottom of the first with a Kaylyn Anthony double to left driving in the first run of the game. The score would remain 1-0 until the top of the sixth when Anthony drove in another run with a sacrifice fly and Lexi Duncan doubled down the left field line to score Kaycie Oakley all the way from first to put UNG up 3-0.
Johns (6-2) scattered five hits and one walk while striking out three in her seven innings of work.
NOTES
– Alishia Frierson and Stephanie Hartness led the Nighthawk effort at the plate, each collecting three hits on the day.
– Today’s game marks just the second time this season that North Georgia has recorded back-to-back shutouts and the first time this year that UNG has had two shutouts in a doubleheader
– This wraps up an 11-game road swing for the Nighthawks. UNG went 8-3 on the nearly month long road trip.
– North Georgia improves to 27-5 all-time against Augusta, having now won 11 straight.
NEXT UP
The Nighthawks return home after the marathon road swing to play 16 games in 14 days to finish out the regular season. The long home stand starts on Saturday, April 1, as UNG will welcome USC Aiken to Hill Stadium. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. and will be preceded by the 2016-2017 Operation Nighthawks of Honor presentation.
