DAHLONEGA | The eighth-ranked University of North Georgia softball team took both games in Tuesday’s doubleheader against in-state rival Columbus State using a near perfect pitching performance to win game one, 3-0, before a gutsy offense rallied twice to down the Cougars, 5-4, in game two. The walk-off win improves North Georgia to 39-5 on the season and keeps the Nighthawks perfect at 20-0 in Peach Belt play.
UNG’s magic number is now at one with today’s sweep of Columbus State paired with second-place Armstrong dropping a game at Flagler today. The Hawks will win the conference outright with a win at Young Harris on Thursday.
Game One
North Georgia used one of Courtney Poole‘s best performances of the season to baffle the CSU bats in game one, downing the Cougars 3-0. Poole carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning before giving up a single through the left side with one out. Only two Columbus runners reached base in the game.
Tiffanie Burns drove in the first run of the game in the second inning, knocking in Alexis Collis with a single to left center, to give UNG the 1-0 lead.
The Nighthawks got some insurance in the bottom of the fifth when Kim McMillan launched her conference-best 17th home run of the season over the right center wall, scoring herself and Taylor Anne Merritt to give the game its final 3-0 score.
Poole picked up the win for the Nighthawks, allowing just the one hit while striking out five.
Game Two
The second game of the night would be a little more interesting as North Georgia erased a Columbus State lead twice to come from behind and win in the bottom of the seventh.
The two teams traded a pair of runs in the first inning, with each being aided by sloppy play. Columbus took the lead again in the fourth with a Taylor Turner RBI double to center to score Lindsay DeFee and make it a 3-2 ballgame. CSU struck again in the fifth with an RBI single to center by Taylor Woods giving the Cougars a 4-2 advantage.
Trailing by two with two outs and runners on second and third in the bottom of the sixth, North Georgia junior Meagan May took what the defense gave her and laid down a beautiful bunt down the first base line and beat out the through to score both runs and even the game at 4-4.
UNG received a spark from the defense as right fielder Alexis Collis made a home run robbing catch in right center to retire the Cougars. The Nighthawks took the momentum to the bottom frame of the inning where Katie Block ripped a triple down the left field line with one out. That’s when Tiffanie Burns grounded a ball to the pitcher, reaching on a fielder’s choice. With Block still off the third base bag, Burns broke straight for second trying to draw a throw and did, allowing Block to come home and score the game winning run.
Poole earned the victory for UNG, advancing to 32-1 on the season. She allowed four runs on 11 hits in the game while striking out six.
Next Up
The Nighthawks will make the trip over Blood Mountain on Thursday to take on rival Young Harris in the final road series of the season. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.
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