UNG earns share of PBC basketball title
Press Release February 27, 2022
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AUGUSTA, Ga. – The No. 10 University of North Georgia women’s basketball team claimed at least a share of the Peach Belt Conference regular season championship and the top seed in next week’s PBC Tournament with a 66-58 win over Augusta Wednesday night.
After trading baskets in the opening minutes, North Georgia took control of the game by going on an 11-2 run midway through the first quarter. The Nighthawks led by six at the break and started the second half on a 9-0 run to lead by 15, 43-28.
Augusta answered late in the third quarter, going on a 15-0 run to tie the game at 47-47, but UNG would pull away in the fourth quarter to claim the win.
NOTES
– It’s the third time in the past five seasons that UNG will be the top seed in the PBC Tournament and the first time since the 2018-19 season.
– Julianne Sutton paced the Nighthawks with a 25 point, 11 rebound double-double. Caroline Martin had 14, while Josie Earnhardt played all 40 minutes, scoring 12.
NEXT UP
North Georgia will honor the senior class Saturday afternoon as they wrap up the regular season with USC Aiken at 1:30 p.m.
Emmanuel upsets UNG in midweek baseball
Business February 27, 2022
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DAHLONEGA – The No. 18 University of North Georgia baseball team fell to Emmanuel in midweek action Wednesday, 6-4, snapping a nine game winning streak over the Lions.
Emmanuel struck first with solo homers in the second and fourth innings. After pushing a second run across in the fourth to lead 3-0, the Nighthawks answered by loading up the bases in the bottom of the fourth and scratching three runs on a Will Hardigree RBI single and a Justin Bailey RBI double. The Lions scored a run in the fifth off a double, but again North Georgia responded with a run after loading the bases again in the fifth to retie the game, 4-4.
The difference was a two-run sixth for Emmanuel as they plated a pair on a two-out single to right. North Georgia didn’t get another base runner on as the Lion pitching staff sat 12 straight UNG batters down.
NOTES
– In total, 14 pitchers saw action with eight Nighthawks finding the mound. Pete Weil got the start, going two innings, while Daniel Courtney finished it off, going 1.2 and fanning three.
– Kaleb Freeman was the only Nighthawk with a two hit game, going 2-for-4.
NEXT UP
North Georgia opens a three game set with Catawba on Friday at 4 p.m.
UNG softball split Wednesday doubleheader
Press Release February 27, 2022
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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Nighthawks fall to Augusta, 76-67
Business, Press Release February 27, 2022
PRESS RELEASE
LUMPKIN COUNTY, Ga. – The University of North Georgia men’s basketball team fell Wednesday night at Augusta, 76-67.
After trading leads early on, Augusta reeled off a 19-4 run to take a one point deficit and turn it into a 14 point cushion with 4:30 to play in the first half. The Jaguar lead remained in double figures until UNG scored the last five points of the half to trail by eight at the break, 33-25.
The Nighthawks trimmed the lead down to three points at 46-43 with 13:30 left, but AU answered with a 10-0 run to seize control. North Georgia trimmed the lead down again, but could never get to within a possession.
NOTES
– Malik Hardy led the way with 19 points, while Giancarlo Bastianoni added 14. Frank Champion put up 13.
– North Georgia shot 40 percent from the floor, including 7-for-24 from distance.
NEXT UP
The Nighthawks will close out the regular season with Senior Day at home Saturday against USC Aiken. Tipoff is set for 3:30 p.m.
No. 11-ranked Nighthawks tennis team defeats Hawaii Hilo, 4-1
Press Release February 22, 2022
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INDIANAPOLIS – The No. 11 University of North Georgia men’s tennis team won the seventh place matchup over No. 15 Hawaii Hilo Sunday morning, 4-1, at the ITA National Team Indoor Championship.
North Georgia battled to win the doubles point after the first two matches to finish were split. Connor Evenson and Daniel Ostap won on the third line, 6-1, to start the day before Ryan Gaskin and Cole Brainard won at No. 2 to clinch the point, 6-2.
The Vulcans tied the match quickly in singles, taking the top line match in straight sets, but North Georgia won the last three to finish. Ostap continued his good weekend with a 6-1, 6-4 win at No. 4, and Gaskin won in three sets, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2. Sebastian Murillo won the match with a 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 win at No. 6.
North Georgia will next travel to Queens to take on the Royals on Saturday, February 26. First serve is slated for 2:30 p.m.
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Connor Frost’s four hits leads UNG win
Press Release February 22, 2022
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DAHLONEGA, Ga. – The No. 19 University of North Georgia baseball team used a quick start to finish off the series with Queens Sunday, winning the rubber match, 10-3.
North Georgia scored four in the second, using a Connor Frost double, a Garrett Hollenbeck sacrifice fly, a Tim Conway infield single and a Kaleb Freeman base knock to right to take the early lead. UNG added on in the third with a Hollenbeck double that pushed the lead to 6-0.
After a quiet fourth and fifth, North Georgia found the scoreboard again in the sixth off RBI singles from Riley Frost, Jake Arnold and Connor Frost to take a 9-0 lead. Queens answered in the seventh with a two-run homer and again in the eighth on a RBI groundout before the Nighthawks scored the final run of the game in the bottom of the eighth off a wild pitch.
NOTES
– Jay Pendley (2-0) earned the win, going 6.2 innings and giving up two runs off six hits and two walks. He struck out a pair of Royals as well.
– Connor Frost finished the day 4-for-5 at the plate, while Conway, Riley Frost, Arnold and Hollenbeck also had multi-hit games.
NEXT UP
North Georgia will have its first midweek game of the season Wednesday as they welcome Emmanuel to Dahlonega for a 3 p.m. first pitch.
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UNG softball wins two in Bearcat Round Robin
Press Release February 22, 2022
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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.
UNG Men’s tennis team to compete for ITA Indoor National Championship
Press Release February 18, 2022
INDIANAPOLIS – The No. 10 University of North Georgia men’s tennis team will begin its run toward the ITA Division II Men’s National Team Indoor Championship with a familiar opponent Friday afternoon as they will battle No. 2 Columbus State in the quarterfinal round.
This is the first time in the history of the program that UNG has been in the tournament, held at the UIndy Tennis Center. North Georgia enters as the No. 7 seed in the bracket.
Barry is the top seed, followed by CSU. Saint Leo, Hawaii Hilo and West Florida round out the top five seeds with UIndy as the No. 6 and Delta State as the eighth seed.
North Georgia will take on Columbus State Friday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. with the winner advancing to the semifinals. Regardless of result, the Nighthawks will battle either Saint Leo or UIndy on Saturday before a match against one of the other four teams slated for Sunday.
Live stats and video are slated to be available for all three matches UNG will play this weekend with links to be found on the Tournament Central homepage as well as the men’s tennis schedule page at UNGAthletics.com.
Forehand named PBC Player of the Week
Business February 16, 2022PRESS RELEASE
Hannah Forehand
AUGUSTA, Ga. – University of North Georgia softball player Hannah Forehand was named the Peach Belt Conference’s Player of the Week, the conference office announced Tuesday.
Forehand hit .588 with a 1.294 slugging percentage as the No. 5 Nighthawks went 6-0 over the weekend. The sophomore second baseman had four home runs with 10 RBI and scored eight runs. She went 3-for-3 in the second game against No. 22 Texas A&M Commerce with two home runs in the fourth inning alone, the second a three-run shot, driving in five. She had a homer and two more RBI in the opener against TAMU-Commerce and two more in the first game against Davis & Elkins with a home run. She also made no errors in 13 chances at second base and was 2-for-2 in stolen bases.
Forehand leads the PBC in home runs and is second in slugging percentage, fifth in runs scored, tied for seventh in RBI and is tied for the league lead in fielding percentage.
The Nighthawks will be back in action this weekend at Lander, taking on USC Beaufort and Chowan twice over the two day event.
UNG rifle team finishes second in home event
Press Release February 14, 2022
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DAHLONEGA – The No. 17 University of North Georgia rifle team finished second in its home event Sunday, falling to No. 18 Georgia Southern while defeating Wofford.
North Georgia finished with an aggregate score of 4611, 14 points behind the Eagles. Wofford’s aggregate score was 4322.
Jaden-Ann Fraser was the top Nighthawk shooter on the day and third best on the day with an aggregate 1162. Finishing as the top Nighthawk in both disciplines, Fraser was the top air rifle shooter with a 588. One point behind her in air was Alyssa Kiser after she started the discipline with a perfect 100 string.
Kiser was the fourth best shooter on aggregate while Jayne Fraley finished fifth on the day.
North Georgia will next be in action at the NCAA qualfier at West Virginia Saturday in a match that will also serve as a SoCon match against VMI.
UNG Rifle Team beats The Citadel
Business February 13, 2022
PRESS RELEASE
DAHLONEGA – The No. 17 University of North Georgia rifle team prevailed in a top 20 matchup, defeating No. 19 The Citadel, 4605-4581. UNG also defeated The Citadel’s women’s team that scored 4292 in aggregate.
UNG was tops in both smallbore and air rifle, edging the Bulldogs by a single point in the latter. The Nighthawks also claimed the top three spots in the individual standings in the win.
Alyssa Kiser was the top shooter on the day in aggregate, finishing atop the air rifle standings with a 585. Dawson Kissik was one point behind Kiser in the aggregate standings, claiming the top smallbore score by 10 points. His 581 in the smallbore included a perfect 100 string as well as a 99 in the prone position.
Jaden-Ann Fraser finished third in aggregate, ending with the second best air rifle score and the fourth best smallbore tally.
North Georgia will be back in action tomorrow at the COL Raymond C. Hamilton Rifle Range as they welcome No. 18 Georgia Southern and Wofford to Dahlonega.
UNG upsets No. 6 Lander, 49-40
Press Release February 13, 2022
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GREENWOOD, S.C. – The 11th ranked University of North Georgia women’s basketball team won a defensive struggle at No. 6 Lander Saturday, 49-40, to complete the season sweep of the Bearcats.
North Georgia never trailed in the contest, jumping out to a 6-0 lead and not looking back. Lander would cut the lead to two by the end of the first, but UNG stretched the lead back out to seven by halftime.
The Nighthawks continued to extend the lead in the third quarter to as many as 13, but the Bearcats made a 7-0 run that cut the UNG lead back to six before LU trimmed it down to as few as two again at the end of the third. North Georgia ran away late, hitting free throws and limiting turnovers to secure the win.
NOTES
– Caroline Martin led UNG with 14 points, while Jamari McDavid added 10. Julianne Sutton had eight points and 12 rebounds.
– The Nighthawks held Lander to just 1-for-16 from three point range.
– The regular season sweep is the first time that North Georgia has beaten Lander both regular season meetings since the 2017-18 season.
NEXT UP
North Georgia will come home for a Battle of Blood Mountain matchup with Young Harris Wednesday night at 5:30 p.m.
No. 5 UNG sweeps Opening Day doubleheader
Press Release February 12, 2022
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.
Kaleb Freeman named PBC Player of the Week
Press Release February 9, 2022
PRESS RELEASE
AUGUSTA, Ga. – University of North Georgia baseball player Kaleb Freeman was named the Peach Belt Conference Freshman of the Week Tuesday.
Freeman began his collegiate career by hitting .400 against No. 16 Lee as the Nighthawks took two of three games. The catcher/DH from Flowery Branch, Georgia, went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs in his first career game. He was 1-for-2 with an RBI and a walk in game two and 1-for-4 with another double and an RBI in game three.
Freeman is tied for the conference lead in doubles and is also ranked in the PBC top 10 in batting average, slugging percentage and RBI.
The Nighthawks will be back on the field Friday afternoon to open a three-game series with Mars Hill. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m.
Levensteins homers twice in 14-0 win
Press Release February 7, 2022
Nik Levensteins
DAHLONEGA – Nik Levensteins homered twice, including a two-run bomb in the first inning as the University of North Georgia baseball team took down No. 16 Lee Saturday, 14-0.
After a Tim Conway single, Levensteins blasted a 1-0 pitch to right field to put UNG in front, 2-0. The Nighthawks scored five in the second inning on an error, four walks, a hit batter and a two-RBI single by Jorge Arispuro.
North Georgia didn’t stop there, scoring a run in the third on a RBI single from Conway and then four more in the sixth on a Levensteins grand slam to take a 12-0 lead. The Nighthawks plated two more in the eighth on a RBI single from Crews Taylor and a fielder’s choice with the bases loaded.
NOTES
– Levensteins becomes the 51st player all-time in UNG baseball history to have two homers in a single game. He is also just the third to have eight RBI, tying Andres Perez for second all-time in the record book.
– Levensteins and Conway each finished with two hits with the latter going 2-for-3 with two walks and three runs scored.
– Pierce Williams (1-0) got the win, going five innings with three strikeouts and three hits surrendered.
– North Georgia’s pitching combined for 10 strikeouts, including five from Pete Weil and one from Caleb Mitchell in the ninth.
NEXT UP
The rubber match of the season-opening series is set for 1 p.m. tomorrow afternoon at Bob Stein Stadium at Lynn Cottrell Park.
UNG picked to win Peach Belt Conference Softball title
Press Release January 29, 2022
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.