DAHLONEGA – The No. 8 University of North Georgia (UNG) softball team split its final two games of the 2025 Mizuno Invitational with a record-setting 23-1 win over Lake Erie College (LEC) followed by a close 5-4 loss against West Florida (UWF).

The 2025 Mizuno Invitational at Haines & Carolyn Hill Stadium at Lynn Cottrell Park was a successful outing for the Nighthawks as they went 3-1 in the event and out-scored their opponents 47-9 in total on the weekend. UNG is now 6-2 on the season through the first eight games of the year.

UNG will now head on the road for a mid-week doubleheader in Jefferson City, Tenn. against Carson-Newman on Wednesday, Feb. 12 before returning home on Saturday, Feb. 14 for the Gold City Classic.

Game 1: Nighthawks def. Storm, 23-1 (5 Inn.)
UNG made history in more ways than one in its first game of the Sunday finale of the 2025 Mizuno Invitational. 

With 23 runs scored, UNG totaled the most runs in a single game in program history since at least 2014. No available records indicate a game in which the Nighthawks have ever scored more runs than they did against LEC on Sunday. 

UNG also set a new record with 16 runs scored in the first inning against the Storm. Since at least 2014, the Nighthawks had never scored more than 13 runs in one inning.

UNG batted around twice in the first inning alone. Junior outfielder Sydnee Reaves highlighted the inning with a three-run home run in her second at bat of the inning after she opened the game with a triple. Reaves is now the only Nighthawk with multiple home runs this season as her deep shot on Sunday was her second of the year. The junior transfer from Montevallo is currently hitting .519 at the plate with a 1.618 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) and 10 RBI. She leads the team in all three categories.

Two batters later, junior outfielder Natalie Ray connected on her first long ball of the year as she sent a solo homer over the center field wall. 

Starting pitcher and junior utility player Chloe Poss aided the offense with a bases-clearing double to right center with the bases loaded to make it 14-0.

Freshman Clara Cherry celebrated the first home run of her collegiate career with a two-run, pinch-hit blast to cap off the scoring in the 16-run inning. 

In the second inning, UNG added its final seven runs of the game as Poss, Cherry, junior outfielder Kaitlyn Johnson, freshman catcher Avery Moffitt and senior catcher Sadye Johnson all recorded RBIs to add to the offensive onslaught.

By the time the second inning was complete, UNG had compiled a 1.952 OPS as a team. In the first two innings, the Nighthawks combined to go 14-for-19 (.736) at the plate with three home runs, 22 RBI and seven extra-base hits. 

UNG would go on to win 23-1 in five innings via mercy rule with the Storm's lone run coming in the top of the fifth.

Game two: Argonauts def. Nighthawks, 5-4
Sunday's second game fell on the opposite side of the spectrum from UNG's dominance in the first game.

The Nighthawks took an early lead after scoring three runs in the first inning. 

Freshman infielder Jenna Miles scored on an error to open the scoring. Then freshman catcher Carleigh Knowles roped a double to left center field to bring in Ray and make it a 2-0 game.

Knowles then manufactured another run as she stole third base, forcing an errant throw from the catcher which allowed her to score and give the Nighthawks a 3-0 lead.

The Argonauts would fight their way back into the game via the long ball after falling behind early.

Hannah Harper's solo homer in the second inning put UWF on the board as it trailed 3-1. Then in the fourth inning, Angelia Discenza connected on a solo shot of her own to make it 3-2.

Four batters later, Nicole Mergen hit a three-run homer to center field to put the Argonauts in front 5-3.

UNG would get a key run in the bottom of the fifth as Ray brought in redshirt sophomore outfielder Tagen Levao-Maisonet with an RBI double to the gap in left center.

However, the Nighthawks were held at bay offensively the rest of the way as UWF hung on for the win.