No. 7 UNG draws Adelphi in NCAA tourney

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DAHLONEGA — The University of North Georgia softball team has been tabbed as the No. 7 seed in the 2022 NCAA Division II Softball Championship and will open the tournament Thursday at 6 p.m. Eastern against No. 22 Adelphi.

Five of the eight top regional seeds advanced to the championship bracket, including Adelphi out of the East, Rogers State from the Central, Southern Indiana from the Midwest, UT Tyler from the South Central, and Auburn Montgomery out of the South. The Atlantic Regional will be represented by their No. 2 seed, Seton Hall, while the West is represented by the No. 6 seed in Cal State Dominguez Hills.

The Nighthawks have played Adelphi three times over the course of the program’s history, most recently on the run to the National Championship in 2015 where North Georgia won in five innings, 8-0, and eliminating the Panthers in the process.

 

UNG beats Lincoln Memorial, 4-1 heads to Denver for NCAA Division II tournament

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DAHLONEGA – Despite losing the first game of the day, the No. 18 University of North Georgia softball team showed their resiliency, grinding out a 4-1 extra innings win over Lincoln Memorial to punch their ticket to Denver and the 2022 NCAA Division II Softball Championship to begin next week.

GAME 1 – LMU 3, UNG 1
Lincoln Memorial did all their damage in the first inning, capitalizing on a pair of hits and a Nighthawk error to score three runs in the frame. Sierra Hucklebee got it started with a single through the left side before McKenzie Henry doubled to score the other two runs.

North Georgia had their opportunities but only broke through once as Jaycie Michael brought home UNG’s lone run of the game in the sixth on a RBI double to left center.

GAME 2 – UNG 4, LMU 1 (8 inn.)
The Railsplitters and Nighthawks traded blows early but neither team found the scoreboard until LMU scratched a run across in the fourth on a Henry single up the middle. North Georgia answered immediately to tie the game up as Haley Cummings singled back where it came from.

After neither team could break through in regulation to end the game, North Georgia finally had the bats wake up in the eighth as Hannah Forehand singled home a run before Michael blasted her first collegiate homer over the right field wall to take a 4-1 lead.

NOTES
– This is the seventh time in program history that North Georgia will advance to the national final site in the NCAA era. It is the first time the Nighthawks have gone in consecutive years since going back-to-back-to-back in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

– Michael went 4-for-6 at the plate on the day.

– UNG is now 2-3 in extra inning games this season.

NEXT UP
The Nighthawks will open play in the NCAA Division II Softball Championship on Thursday. With Super Regional play extending into Saturday as the Atlantic Regional was washed out on Friday, the remaining eight teams will be reseeded prior to game times being announced over the weekend.

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UNG softball named third seed in Southeast Regional

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INDIANAPOLIS – The University of North Georgia softball team was named the No. 3 seed in the Southeast Regional and will head to Hickory, North Carolina for a Thursday start. North Georgia is the lone Peach Belt school to earn a bid to the postseason as the league’s automatic qualifier.

The Nighthawks will open against sixth-seeded Carson-Newman at Lenoir-Rhyne. The second-seeded Bears will take on Wingate on an opening day.

The regional berth is the 14th straight for North Georgia, having made the postseason in every season since gaining eligibility in Division II.

On the other side of the regional, top-seeded Anderson will host fourth-seeded King, fifth-seeded Lincoln Memorial and eighth-seeded Francis Marion.

Game times will be announced in the coming days. All games will take place at L-R’s Bears Field.

 

UNG softball completes regular season with spotless home record, 24-0

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DAHLONEGA – The No. 19 University of North Georgia softball team completed the regular season Sunday with a 8-0 run rule win over Flagler, completing the regular season schedule at a perfect 24-0 inside Haines & Carolyn Hill Stadium at Lynn Cottrell Park.

The Nighthawks got on the board in the first as Haley Cummings doubled in the gap in right center to plate the game’s first run. North Georgia quickly extended their lead to 3-0 in the second inning off RBI singles from Georgia Blair and Olivia Sinquefield.

UNG put the game away in the fourth, scoring five while batting around. Madi Perry started it off with a double in the gap in left center to score the first run of the inning. Mallory Parker then kept it going with a double of her own to stretch it to a 5-0 lead. After Parker scored on a Saint error, Hannah Forehand and Jaycie Michael each had RBI singles to get to the eight run cushion.

NOTES
– Kristen Davis (14-4) got the win, going four innings with just one hit given up and a pair of walks. She struck out two. Tybee Denton finished the game with two strikeouts in the final inning.

– Michael and Perry were each 2-for-2 in the game.

– The 24-0 regular season home record is the best since going 24-0 in 2011. Those wins included the postseason in the year North Georgia started 51-0.

NEXT UP
North Georgia will be the top seed in the Peach Belt Conference Tournament next weekend at Lander. Bracket and game times will be released by the league Monday morning.

Emmanuel sweeps doubleheader from UNG

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FRANKLIN SPRINGS, Ga. – The No. 16 University of North Georgia softball team lost twice to Emmanuel Wednesday, falling 4-2 and 3-2 in the non-conference doubleheader.

GAME 1 – EC 4, UNG 2
Emmanuel put pressure on North Georgia early, loading up the bases in the bottom of the second and pushing a run across on a fielder’s choice. One inning later, the Lions scored two more on a RBI single up the middle that extended the lead to 3-0.

North Georgia finally got to the scoreboard in the fourth as Madison Simmons homered over the wall in left. UNG then loaded up the bases and pushed across another run to cut the lead to 3-2. Emmanuel answered in the bottom of the inning with a solo homer of their own to get to the final score.

GAME 2 – EC 3, UNG 2
Emmanuel scored all three of their runs in the fifth, putting runs on the board via two RBI singles and a sacrifice fly to take the 3-0 lead.

The Nighthawks answered in the top of the sixth, plating two off a Haley Cummings RBI double, but that was all North Georgia could get as they fell by the 3-2 score.

NOTES
– Emmanuel snapped a 16 game losing streak in the series and won back-to-back games for the first time in the all-time series.

– Cummings and Hannah Forehand were each 3-for-6 in the twinbill.

– North Georgia debuted at No. 3 in the first region rankings released Wednesday afternoon.

NEXT UP
North Georgia will start a five-game homestand to wrap up the regular season on Tuesday as they host Lincoln Memorial for a non-conference doubleheader. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.

USC Aiken blanks No. 12 Nighthawks, 4-0

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AIKEN, S.C. – The No. 12 University of North Georgia softball team fell Saturday at USC Aiken, 4-0.

The Pacers did all of their damage in the bottom of the sixth, starting with a bases clearing double that put USCA up, 3-0. Two batters later, USC Aiken used a single to score the fourth run of the contest.

North Georgia had their chances to score, putting runners in scoring position in all but the seventh inning, but could never find that timely hit to plate a run.

NOTES
– With the loss and a Columbus State win, the magic number remains at two to clinch the regular season title.

– Hannah Forehand and Madi Perry each had a pair of hits in the game.

NEXT UP
North Georgia will jump out of conference play Wednesday to travel to Emmanuel. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.

UNG splits softball twinbill at USC Aiken

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AIKEN, S.C. – The No. 12 University of North Georgia softball team split Friday’s twinbill at USC Aiken, winning in the first game before losing in extra innings in the second.

GAME 1 – UNG 9, USCA 0 (5 inn.)
North Georgia had the offense going early and often, starting in the first inning with a Haley Cummings RBI double to take the early 1-0 advantage. The Nighthawks poured it on in the second inning with Olivia Sinquefield plating a pair on a single before Madison Simmons brought home Sinquefield on a single of her own to take a 4-0 lead.

UNG added a run in the third before Simmons blasted a solo homer over the right field wall in the fourth. The Nighthawks plated three more in the fifth off a Mallory Parker RBI single, a Pacer error and a Jolie Lester RBI single to get to the final score.

Kristen Davis (11-2) tossed a one-hitter, allowing just five base runners while fanning three.

GAME 2 – USCA 3, UNG 2 (8 inn.)
The Pacers were the first to the scoreboard in the nightcap, plating a pair on a two run homer in the third. North Georgia tied it up in the fifth on a Georgia Blair solo homer and a sacrifice fly from Sinquefield, ultimately forcing an extra inning as neither team could find another run in regulation.

After a perfect top of the eighth for USCA, the Pacers got a one out walkoff homer to earn the split.

NOTES
– North Georgia’s magic number for clinching the regular season title is at two.

– Lester finished the day 5-for-8 at the plate.

NEXT UP
The two will wrap up the series tomorrow afternoon at 3 p.m.

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UNG routes Georgia College, 9-1

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DAHLONEGA – The No. 16 University of North Georgia softball team took care of business Saturday afternoon with a 9-1 six inning win over Georgia College.

Madison Simmons opened the scoring in the first with a RBI double to take a 1-0 lead, but the Bobcats answered in the top of the second with a RBI double to tie the game. That’s when the Nighthawk offense woke up, starting in the third inning with a Simmons RBI single that gave UNG the lead. Hannah Forehand kept it going in the frame with a two run homer to extend the lead to 4-1.

Jolie Lester doubled in the fourth, bringing home another run before Haley Cummings hit a towering homer in the fifth to score two more. A Bobcat error in the sixth allowed the final UNG run to cross, ending the game.

NOTES
– Simmons finished the day 3-for-3 at the plate to lead the way.

– Kristen Davis got the win, throwing all six innings, striking out six along the way.

NEXT UP
North Georgia will continue the series with a 12 p.m. doubleheader tomorrow.

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UNG softball sweeps Georgia Southwestern

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AMERICUS, Ga. – The No. 13 University of North Georgia softball team finished off their fourth straight Peach Belt Conference sweep, taking down Georgia Southwestern, 6-0, Sunday afternoon.

Madison Simmons got things started in the first, blasting a two run homer to take the early lead. North Georgia kept it going in the third inning as the Nighthawks plated two more off a Haley Cummings RBI double and a Hannah Forehand RBI single to stretch the lead to 4-0.

Jolie Lester pushed a fifth run across in the fourth inning off a sacrifice fly before Cummings singled in the sixth to round out the scoring.

NOTES

Kristen Davis (8-2) finished out the series with a five hit shutout, striking out five.

 

– The 13-game winning streak in conference play is the longest since UNG won its final 13 games in league play in 2017.

UNG softball earns split with Lee

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CLEVELAND, Tenn. – The No. 13 University of North Georgia softball team split a doubleheader  with Lee Tuesday, falling in the first game before running away with the nightcap.

GAME 1 

LEE 6, UNG 5

The Flames took the early advantage by pushing a run across in the bottom of the first, but the Nighthawks answered immediately with a sacrifice fly from Mallory Parker that tied the game at 1-1. After a Lee RBI single in the second, North Georgia again answered in the next frame, this time with back-to-back-to-back homers from Olivia Sinquefield, Madison Simmons and Haley Cummings to take a 4-2 lead.

Lee scored a pair in the bottom of the third to tie it up again at 4-4, but North Georgia retook the lead in the fifth, using a Gracie Mixson RBI single to take a 5-4 lead. Lee would score in the bottom of the fifth on a wild pitch and scratch the game winning run across in the sixth on a RBI double.

GAME 2

UNG 10, LEE 3

North Georgia was the first to the scoreboard in the latter half of the twinbill, scoring four runs in the second inning on RBI singles from Mixson, Georgia Blair and Jolie Lester to take the early lead. After a Flame homer in the bottom of the inning cut the lead to 4-1, North Georgia scored again in the fourth on a double steal and then twice more in the fifth, capped by a Mixson RBI single to take a 7-1 lead.
The Flames scored their final two runs in the bottom of the fifth on a RBI single and a UNG error before the Nighthawks finished off the game with homers from Blair and Sinquefield and a Lee wild pitch.

NOTES
– Jordan Warzynski (1-1) got the decision in both games, including going 4.1 innings in the nightcap, fanning three.
– Cummings finished the doubleheader 5-for-8 at the dish, while Mixson was 4-for-8.

NEXT UP
North Georgia will be on the road Saturday to start a three game league series at Georgia Southwestern.

UNG sweeps pair from Lander

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GREENWOOD, S.C. – The No. 15 University of North Georgia softball team claimed a pair of victories Saturday over Lander to complete the Peach Belt sweep of the Bearcats.

GAME 1 – UNG 7, LU 2
The Nighthawks jumped on top early, scoring four in the first on a bases loaded walk, a Hannah Forehand RBI double and a RBI groundout to take an early 4-0 lead. After Lander scored twice in the third, North Georgia answered by having Jolie Lester steal home in the fifth and take a 5-2 lead.

Lester would bring home the final two runs on a single in the sixth to get the game to its final score.

Delaney Heaberlin earned the win, throwing all seven innings and scattering five hits and a walk.

GAME 2 – UNG 3, LU 2
Lander was the first to score in the nightcap, using an infield single to plate a run in the first inning. All was quiet offensively until Olivia Sinquefield woke the bat up for a solo homer to center to tie the game 1-1 in the sixth.

After Madi Perry scored on a wild pitch in the seventh, Sinquefield plated UNG’s third run of the game on an infield single. Lander got a run in the bottom of the seventh, but Heaberlin worked out of it to get her second win of the day.

NOTES
– Haley Cummings went 3-for-5 on the day, while Lester went 3-for-7.

NEXT UP
North Georgia will battle AUM Tuesday at 3 p.m. in a doubleheader.
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UNG scored 31 runs in doubleheader sweep

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 LUMPKIN COUNTY, Ga.  – The No. 4 University of North Georgia softball team took care of business Sunday against Bluefield State, knocking off the Big Blue twice in run-rule fashion.

GAME 1 – UNG 14, BSU 0 (5 inn.)
After scoring on a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly in the first inning, North Georgia proceeded to score 11 runs in the second. Hannah Forehand got the inning started with a two run shot to left center that cleared the newly constructed Cottrell Terrace. UNG pushed the score out to 8-0 before Haley Cummings had some fireworks of her own with a two run blast to score the seventh and eighth runs of the inning.

The Nighthawks didn’t stop there as Ashley Garrison hit a RBI triple and then scored on a wild pitch just prior to Jolie Lester bringing home the final run of the frame. Makayla Krepps brought home the game’s final run in the fourth on a double to left field.

Tybee Denton (7-2) got the win, going three innings and fanning seven.

GAME 2 – UNG 17, BSU 0 (5 inn.)
The Nighthawks got a big first inning to start game two, scoring eight in a frame highlighted by the first collegiate home run for Grayson Perry, a three run shot to the deepest part of the ball park.

After plating two in the second, North Georgia had another big inning in the third, crossing home plate seven times. UNG loaded up the bases for RBI singles from Garrison, Mallory Parker and Marley Holmes and a RBI double for Mariah Wicker.

Kristen Davis (2-1) earned the win in four innings of work, sitting eight down by strikes.

NEXT UP
North Georgia will open up Peach Belt play at Columbus State on Saturday with a noon doubleheader.

UNG softball split Wednesday doubleheader

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TAMPA, Fla. – The No. 4 University of North Georgia softball team split a Thursday doubleheader at No. 13 Tampa, winning the first game before the Spartans walked off the nightcap.

GAME 1 – UNG 7, UT 0
North Georgia jumped out to an early 4-0 lead after scoring in the second inning. After back-to-back-to-back errors from Tampa that plated the first run of the game, a Jaycie Michael single and an Olivia Sinquefield double plated the three other runs in the frame.

The Nighthawks scored twice more in the sixth on another RBI single from Michael and a wild pitch. Haley Cummings brought home the game’s final run in the seventh on a sacrifice fly.

Kristen Davis (1-1) pitched a two-hit shutout, fanning five and walking just one.

GAME 2 – UT 2, UNG 1
North Georgia again scored first in the second inning, taking advantage of a Spartan error to scratch the run across. Tampa answered in the fourth, scoring on a Nighthawk error to tie the game.

Tampa kept the Nighthawk bats at bay, setting them up to walk it off in the seventh after loading the bases in the frame.

NOTES
– Tampa committed seven errors in the doubleheader, five of which were in game one.

– Sinquefield finished the day going 4-for-7 at the plate.

NEXT UP
North Georgia returns home for a Sunday matinee doubleheader against Bluefield State. First pitch is slated for noon.

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UNG softball wins two in Bearcat Round Robin

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GREENWOOD, S.C. The No. 3 University of North Georgia softball team finished up the Bearcat Round Robin with a pair of Sunday wins over Chowan and USC Beaufort.

GAME 1 – UNG 11, CU 2 (6 inn.)
The Nighthawks wasted no time getting on the scoreboard as Haley Cummings singled in the top of the first to plate Jolie Lester and the game’s first run. After the Hawks scored a run in the second and third to lead 2-1, North Georgia’s bats woke up starting with a Lester bases clearing fourth inning double that put UNG back on top, 4-2.

In the fifth, UNG scored five runs, capped off by a Sadye Johnson three-run blast before the Nighthawks scored two more in the sixth on a pair of Chowan errors.

Tybee Denton (6-1) earned the win with eight strikeouts across the complete game.

GAME 2 – UNG 10, USCB 3
The bats stayed hot for North Georgia as the Nighthawks scored five in the top half of the first inning on RBI singles from Cummings and Gracie Mixson, a fielder’s choice, a bases loaded walk and a wild pitch. UNG scored another run in the second to push the lead to 6-0, but the Sandsharks answered in the fourth with a two run homer to trim the lead.

Madi Perry got one of the two runs back in the fifth on a RBI single, but USCB got it right back with a solo homer in the bottom of the inning. Leading 7-3, Lester got UNG back on the scoreboard in the sixth with a solo homer before a Cummings sacrifice fly. An Olivia Sinquefield sacrifice squeeze in the seventh pushed the score to 10-3.

Delaney Heaberlin (5-1) went four innings to secure the win, scattering two runs and six hits while fanning three.

NOTES
– Mixson finished the day 4-for-7 with three runs scored and a RBI.

NEXT UP
North Georgia will be on the road Wednesday for a doubleheader at Eckerd. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.

 

No. 5 UNG sweeps Opening Day doubleheader

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Hannah Forehand

DAHLONEGA – The No. 5 University of North Georgia softball team earned a pair of wins in the opening day of the Captain D’s Surf ‘n Turf Classic Friday at Haines & Carolyn Hill Stadium at Lynn Cottrell Park.

GAME 1 – #5 UNG 5, #22 TAMU-C 1
Texas A&M – Commerce got on the board first after loading the bases in the second and hitting a sacrifice fly, but the Nighthawks answered immediately with three in the bottom of the inning off a Madi Perry single, an Olivia Sinquefield sacrifice fly and a double steal that gave UNG a 3-1 lead.
All was quiet until the sixth inning when Hannah Forehand graced Cottrell Terrace with the first homer to left of the season at home, putting the Nighthawks up, 5-1.
Tybee Denton (3-0) earned the win, throwing a one-hitter and fanning eight along the way.

GAME 2 – #5 UNG 8, Davis& Elkins 1
North Georgia wasted little time getting on the scoreboard in the second game of the day, putting three on the board in the second off a Marley Holmes RBI single and good base running to take the early lead. After a double steal in the fifth extended the UNG lead to 4-0, Davis & Elkins got an RBI single in the bottom of the fifth to claw back to 4-1.
Forehand answered in the sixth with her second homer of the day, this one to left center to stretch the lead back to four before UNG blew the gates open in the seventh, plating three more on a Madison Simmons RBI double, a Mariah Wicker RBI triple and a Forehand RBI single.
Delaney Heaberlin (1-1) got the win, throwing six innings, striking out six.

NOTES
– Forehand finished the day going 4-for-5 with two home runs four runs scored and four RBI.

NEXT UP
North Georgia will play Davis & Elkins in the first game of the day tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. before battling TAMU-Commerce at 2 p.m. in the third game of the day.

UNG picked to win Peach Belt Conference Softball title

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AUGUSTA, Ga. – After picking up the No. 5 spot in the national preseason poll earlier this week, the University of North Georgia softball team has been picked to win the Peach Belt Conference regular season title in the preseason coaches poll, the league announced Thursday. Additionally, Gracie Mixson, Mallory Parker and Olivia Sinquefield were each named to the Preseason All-Conference Team.
North Georgia received all seven first-place votes available to them for a maximum 56 points in the coaches poll. Columbus State and Young Harris were tied for second place with 46 points each with Flagler in fourth and Georgia Southwestern in fifth. Augusta, Georgia College, Lander and USC Aiken rounded out the voting.
North Georgia seeks to continue their historic run of success in the Peach Belt. The Nighthawks have won seven straight PBC regular-season championships and seven straight PBC Tournament titles, both the longest such streaks in PBC history. For 2022, UNG will have to contend with the loss of six All-Conference graduates and return a roster with no seniors and two juniors. However, the Nighthawks bring back half of their starting lineup, including two All-Conference performers.
Mixson, a sophomore from Canton, Georgia, was a first-team All-Conference selection at third base in 2021 and was also named to the PBC All-Tournament Team. She hit .364 with five doubles, one home run and 10 RBI in 2021, ranking 10th in the PBC in batting average. Mixson hit .500 in four games at the NCAA National Championship tournament, including a 3-for-3 outing against Biola in the national semifinal round. She was named an NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete and a PBC Presidential Honor Roll Silver Scholar.
Parker, a sophomore from Kennesaw, Georgia, hit .315 with nine doubles, four triples, two home runs and 22 RBI last season. She tied for second in the PBC in triples and had nine multi-hit games last year, including against Saint Anselm in the NCAA National Championships. Parker also had five RBI against Shorter, the second-most RBI by any player in the PBC in a single game.
Sinquefield, a junior from Phenix City, Alabama, was a second-team All-Conference selection in 2021 after hitting .305 with 10 doubles, two home runs and 30 RBI, stealing 14 bases in 15 attempts as well. She ranked fifth in the PBC in stolen bases, sixth in hits, second in sacrifice bunts; second in putouts and sixth in fielding percentage and also led the PBC in double plays turned. Sinquefield was also named a PBC Presidential Honor Roll Bronze Scholar and named to the Team of Academic Distinction.
North Georgia will open up the season at the Gulf Shores Invitational, starting Saturday, February 5, against Delta State at 4:15 p.m. EST.

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