ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – After a 4-1 win over West Alabama in the first game of the day, the No. 7 University of North Georgia softball team needed nine innings to defeat Embry-Riddle
Friday night at the South/Southeast Region Crossover hosted by Flagler. UNG won, 1-0, in the second game.
GAME ONE
The Nighthawks wasted no time getting on the board against West Alabama as Sydney Sprague and Marley Stowersscored on a Shelby Hammontree RBI double to left center in the first inning to put UNG on top, 2-0.
UWA answered with a run in the third after a leadoff double led to a RBI single two batters later to cut the Nighthawk lead in half, 2-1.
North Georgia responded, however, scoring the final two runs of the game in the next frame on a Brittany Gilliam blast over the right field wall to bring the game to its final score.
Amber Johns earned the win, improving to 3-0 after her 5.1 innings of work where she struck out five.
GAME TWO
A pitcher’s duel was the story for the nightcap as Kylee Smith and Embry-Riddle’s Ilona Andringa went toe-to-toe. Andringa didn’t give up a hit to UNG until the fourth inning.
Both teams had opportunities to score a run in regulation, but neither team could push a run across, forcing extra innings. After a scoreless eighth, the Nighthawks broke the tie and won the game on a Hobby Gregory walk-off single.
Smith struck out 15 Eagles in her complete game shutout.
NOTES
– North Georgia had just two hits in the second game of the day, marking the fewest hits in a win since a two-hit win against Armstrong State on March 12, 2016.
– The Nighthawks improve to 8-0 in 2018. This is the best start for UNG since the 2012 season, which was also an 8-0 start.
NEXT UP
The Nighthawks will continue play in the South/Southeast Region Crossover with a doubleheader against Rollins tomorrowstarting at 4 p.m.
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