DAHLONEGA – The No. 3 University of North Georgia (UNG) softball team split its two games on the final day of the 2025 Gold City Classic at Haines & Carolyn Hill Stadium at Lynn Cottrell Park.

In game one the Nighthawks suffered a 12-4 loss in six innings to Emory & Henry (E&H) to open the day.

UNG recovered in game two as the offense exploded for four home runs in a 10-1 win in five innings over Emmanuel.

The Nighthawks will now get ready for a standalone game in Madison, Ala. at Toyota Field, home of the Rocket City Trash Pandas, the Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels, against Alabama-Huntsville in the Rocket City Softball Showcase.

Game 1: Wasps def. Nighthawks, 12-4 (6 Inn.)
The opener on day two of the Gold City Classic saw UNG and E&H face off in a rematch as the Nighthawks were seeking revenge after a 9-0 loss to the Wasps on Friday.

Instead the E&H offense continued to score at a high rate, posting 12 runs in the win.

The game started close as junior outfielder Natalie Ray tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the first with an RBI single to score junior outfielder Sydnee Reaves.

After the Wasps plated five runs in the third inning with a number of bases loaded walks, the Nighthawks remained close as they responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning.

Ray recorded another RBI with a productive groundout as Reaves scored once more. Freshman catcher Carleigh Knowles then flew out to center field on a sacrifice fly to bring in freshman infielder Jenna Miles.

Then in the fourth inning the Wasps broke the game open with another four runs to make it 10-3.

Senior shortstop Rylie Moody added a run for UNG in the bottom of the frame with an RBI single to score redshirt sophomore infielder Tagen Levao-Maisonet. 

However, it would not be enough as E&H added a run in the fifth and sixth innings to take an eight-run lead.

The game ended via the mercy rule in the sixth inning when the Nighthawk offense was held scoreless.

Game 2: Nighthawks def. Lions, 10-1 (5 Inn.)
On a chilly, rain-soaked day in Dahlonega, UNG kept warm with some hot bats in its second game of the day.

Emmanuel started the scoring in the Gold City Classic finale with a lone run in the top of the first inning.

However, the Nighthawks quickly evened the playing field with a double steal in the second inning that allowed Knowles to score as Levao-Maisonet stole second base and baited a throw from behind home plate.

Later in the inning, Moody clobbered a ball over the left field wall. Her first home run of the season plated three runs to give UNG a 4-1 lead. Moody now has 10 RBI on the season which ranks second on the team.

In the very next at bat, Reaves launched a no-doubt homer to right center field to go back-to-back with Moody and make it 5-1. Reaves is UNG's RBI leader so far this season as the Montevallo transfer has plated 15 Nighthawk runs this year.

Moody made it a 6-1 game in the third inning with another RBI on a bases-loaded groundout.

Then in her second consecutive at bat, Reaves homered once more. This blast brought in three runs to bust the game open as Reaves' line drive screamer just snuck over the right field wall.

In the fourth inning, Knowles sealed the deal with her first career home run, a solo blast to right field to make it 10-1.

Freshman pitcher Graci West picked up the first win of her career in the blowout. The Commerce, Ga. native pitched a complete game with only five hits, one run, three walks and a career-high six strikeouts.