Nighthawk Bats Come Alive as Softball Opens Up Home Slate with Two Big Wins

DAHLONEGA, Ga. – The eighth-ranked University of North Georgia softball team opened the 2017 home slate in style Friday at the Steak ‘n Shake Classic, downing McKendree, 10-0, and Mars Hill, 9-1, in front of a great opening day crowd at Haines and Carolyn Hill Stadium. The Nighthawks improve to 6-2 on the young season with today’s sweep.

GAME ONE
Errors plagued McKendree in the first inning getting the Bearcats into trouble early as North Georgia took full advantage of three miscues, tallying eight runs on six hits. Jessica Finch opened up the flood gates with a bases clearing double into the right center gap. Sydney Sprague provided a two-run double to right later in the inning to put UNG up 8-0 after the first.

Freshman Kaylyn Anthony hit her first home run at Hill Stadium in the second to extend the UNG lead and went on to put the Nighthawks up 10-0 with a RBI double to right in the bottom of the third.

Bria Bush (2-2) picked up the win for North Georgia going three innings allowing just two hits and a walk while adding four strike outs. Amber Johns impressed in two innings of no-hit ball, allowing just one walk while mowing down five McKendree batters.

GAME TWO
UNG was the designated visiting team in their second game of the day taking on Mars Hill and took full advantage of getting the first at bat, plating three runs in the top of the first. Stephanie Hartness ripped a double down the left field line to get things going and Sprague followed with an RBI single up the middle to plate the first run of the game. A passed ball and a RBI ground out would score the other two runs of the frame.

North Georgia tacked on two more runs in the second with a bases loaded hit by pitch and a throwing error on a failed pickoff attempt to third base. Sprague continue her hot day with a solo blast to left that landed more than halfway up the hill.

Hartness provided another spark in the top of the sixth with a triple to right center and once again, Sprague drove her home with an RBI single placed perfectly down the left field line. Kali Turner would end up bringing Sprague home with a sacrifice fly to deep center. Sprague would round out her day with a RBI groundout to second to plate Allison Neely in the seventh to give UNG the 9-1 lead that proved final.

Kylee Smith (4-0) picked up the win in the circle for the Nighthawks allowing just one run on two hits and three walks, while striking out 12, doubling her previous career high. Johns added an inning of perfect relief, striking out two.

NOTES
– Nighthawk fans quickly learned the name of newcomer Sydney Sprague who went a team-best 5-for-7 on the day with four runs batted in, a double, a home run, and two stolen bases, in Friday’s two games.

– UNG’s three leading hitters continued their hot start today, Sydney Sprague (.565), Stephanie Hartness (.483), and Kaylyn Anthony (.417) went 13-for-20 on the day with three doubles, a triple, and a pair of home runs.

– North Georgia is an amazing 16-0 in home openers dating back to 2002, when game-by-game records were established.

NEXT UP
The Nighthawks return to action at the Steak ‘n Shake Classic tomorrow taking on Palm Beach Atlantic at Noon, before facing West Georgia at 4 p.m. Fans in attendance will have chances to win prizes from Steak ‘n Shake throughout the day.