2/19/17
DAHLONEGA, Ga. – The eighth-ranked University of North Georgia softball team earned a pair of victories over Shepherd, 9-1, and Seton Hill, 12-4 (5 Innings), on a rain-filled opening day of the 2017 Captain D’s Classic at Haines & Carolyn Hill Stadium. The Nighthawks improve to 12-4 on the season with the two wins.
GAME ONE
Freshman hurler Kylee Smith (7-1) got back to her winning ways holding the Rams hitless through the first five innings of play. What would’ve been a combined one-hit shutout was broken up by an unearned run that came in on an infield error on what should’ve been the last out of the game. Smith struck out 12 while allowing just two walks.
The Nighthawks got on the board in the top of the first after Stephanie Hartness walked and stole second and then came in to score on an Alishia Frierson RBI single up the middle. UNG added another run in the fifth and then broke the game wide open in the sixth with a two-run homer from Sydney Sprague that was followed by a three-run shot from Kaylyn Anthony that gave North Georgia 7-0 lead heading into the seventh.
UNG added a pair of runs in the top of the seventh before giving up the unearned run in the bottom frame of the inning, giving the game its final 9-1 score.
GAME TWO
The steady rain at the beginning of game two, played a noticeable role in the early going with a handful of errors for both teams. North Georgia gave up four unearned runs in the top of the first to Seton Hill on a pair of errors.
Sprague provided a spark for the UNG offense in the bottom of the first ripping a double into the right center gap. Hartness followed with a single and both would come into score on a fielder’s choice and throwing error to pull the Nighthawks back within two.
UNG tied the game with a pair of runs in the third and would follow with three runs in the fourth and four in the fifth to seal the 12-4 run-rule victory after five innings.
Amber Johns (2-0) earned the win in her first career start without allowing an earned run, surrendering just three hits with five walks while striking out seven.
NOTES
– Alishia Frierson had a great day at the plate leading the Nighthawks in terms of average with a 5-for-8 performance that included two doubles and three RBI.
– Kaylyn Anthony, Sydney Sprague, and Hannah McSwain, all tallied both a double and a home run on the day.
– Anthony and Sprague share the team lead in home runs with four each on the young season.
NEXT UP
The Nighthawks will wrap up the Captain D’s Classic tomorrow taking on Shepherd and Seton Hill once again at Noon and 2 p.m., respectively. The day will start with a game between the Rams and the Griffins at 10 a.m.
