DAHLONEGA – The No. 11 University of North Georgia (UNG) softball team opened the 2025 NCAA Southeast Regional with a 6-1 win over seventh-seeded Tusculum at Haines & Carolyn Hill Stadium at Lynn Cottrell Park Thursday afternoon.

The second-seeded Nighthawks jumped out to an early lead in the second inning and did not look back against the Pioneers.

Junior starting pitcher Chloe Poss provided herself with some run support after lacing a one-out single into center field to plate two runs for UNG in the bottom of the second.

Tusculum would get an unearned run back in the top of the third, but Poss stranded two runners in scoring position to keep the Nighthawks in front 2-1.

In the home half of the frame, junior center fielder Sydnee Reaves second base on an error by the Pioneers. A pair of groundouts advanced the speedy runner home, the last of which came from junior left fielder Natalie Ray for her 55th RBI of the season. 

Junior first baseman Marycille Brumby pounded a double to left center with one out in the fifth inning to catalyze another offensive inning for UNG. 

Reaves then reached on an infield single and stole second base to put two runners in scoring position with just one out. 

Freshman second baseman Jenna Miles then punched an RBI single into left field to give the Nighthawks a 4-1 advantage. Just a few pitches later, Reaves raced home on an infield single from Ray.

Poss cemented her stellar performance both in the circle and at the plate in the sixth inning. Batting for the third time in the day, the Thomson, Ga. native poked her second run-scoring base hit into the outfield with an RBI double to make it 6-1. 

The junior right-handed hitter/pitcher went 2-for-3 with three RBIs at the plate against the Pioneers. She then shut them down in the circle, pitching her ninth complete game of the season with just six hits allowed and one unearned run. 

With the victory, UNG moves forward in the winner's bracket of the Southeast Regional 2 tournament. 

The Nighthawks will face third-seeded Lenoir-Rhyne (LR) Friday, May 9 at 12:00 p.m. from Haines & Carolyn Hill Stadium for a chance to advance to the regional semifinals. 

UNG hopes to exact revenge against the Bears who ended the Nighthawks' season in the Southeast Super Regional last season.