GULF SHORES, Ala. – The eighth-ranked University of North Georgia softball lifted the lid on the 2017 season by splitting a pair of games on the first day of the 2017 Gulf Coast Invitational hosted by Spring Hill at the Gulf Shores Sportsplex. No. 23 Alabama-Huntsville shut out the Nighthawks, 6-0, in six innings in the opener before the Nighthawks rebounded with a 10-4 victory over Auburn-Montgomery.

Game One – No. 23 Alabama-Huntsville 8, No. 8 North Georgia 0
The Chargers plated three runs in both the fifth and sixth innings to post an 8-0 win in six innings. North Georgia mustered just three hits against Tyler Harrison and the Nighthawk defense struggled in the field committing six errors.

Stephanie Hartness recorded two of the Nighthawks’ three hits as the senior tallied a pair of singles. Alishia Frierson‘s second inning single was the only other hit for UNG.

UA-H’s Katilyn Bannister was a perfect 2-2 from the plate with a pair of runs scored and two RBI’s.

North Georgia starter Bria Bush was tagged with the loss in the circle after scattering five hits in five innings of work. Of her five runs allowed, only two were earned.

Game Two – No. 8 North Georgia 10, Auburn-Montgomery 4
After falling behind 2-0 through two innings, the UNG bats came alive in the second game of the day as the Nighthawks pounded out 11 hits in the final five innings fueled by a 3-4 performance from freshman Kaylyn Anthony that included a pair of homers, three runs scored and three RBI’s.

North Georgia plated two runs in both the third and fourth innings and iced the team’s first win of the season with four more in the eighth.

Stephanie Hartness and Brittany Gillam joined Anthony with multiple hit games for UNG, while Sydney Sprague and Jordan Deep added round-trippers for the Nighthawks.

Kylee Smith picked up her first career victory in the circle after tossing five innings of work allowing just three hits while striking out six.

Notes
– The loss to UA-H marks the second consecutive season-opening setback for North Georgia. UNG dropped its first four contests a year ago, but rebounded to win 19 consecutive en route to a 54-8 season ledger.

– The meeting was the 20^th all-time with UA-H with the Chargers now owning a 12-8 edge, while AUM appeared across the lineup card for the first time in program history.

– North Georgia will face six Gulf South Conference teams in the three days of play at the Gulf Coast Invitational.

Next
UNG continues play in the Gulf Coast Invitational with a pair of games tomorrow, Feb. 4, against No. 13 Valdosta State (11:00 a.m.) and West Florida (1:30 p.m.).