No. 8 Nighthawks Douse Flames In Midweek Doubleheader
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The No. 8 University of North Georgia (UNG) softball team took down Lee University in a neutral site doubleheader at Frost Stadium in Chattanooga, Tenn. on Tuesday.
UNG (34-8, 13-2 Peach Belt) rallied from a 2-0 deficit in game one to take down the Flames (20-21, 7-16 Gulf South) 4-2 in comeback fashion.
In game two, the Nighthawks held on to a 2-1 lead behind stellar pitching and defense for the sweep.
Now UNG will return to Haines & Carolyn Hill Stadium at Lynn Cottrell Park for its final regular season home series of the season. The Nighthawks will face Columbus State on April 11-12. First pitch in Friday's opener is set for 5 p.m. while Senior Day will be celebrated on Saturday.
Game 1: Nighthawks def. Flames, 4-2
With a run on an RBI groundout in the first inning and another run in the third inning, the Flames gave UNG a scare on Tuesday.
The Nighthawks entered the contest with a 6-5 record when their opponent scores first in a game. That mark improved as UNG rallied four four runs in the final three innings to snatch the victory away from Lee.
Things got started in the fourth behind arguably the hottest hitter in the country right now. With two outs and a runner on base, freshman catcher Carleigh Knowles blasted a home run to left center field just minutes after she was named the National Fast Pitch Coaches Association (NFCA) National Player of the Week.
Her nation-leading 18th homer of the year tied the game at 2-2 and provided the first spark of offense for the Nighthawks.
Still tied in the sixth inning, sophomore third baseman Journey Roberts opened up the home half of the frame with a single.
A bunt single from junior center fielder Sydnee Reaves applied pressure to the Flames defense that resulted in a throwing error. Reaves ended up on third while Roberts scored from first to give UNG the 3-2 lead.
Reaves scored two batters later on an RBI single from junior outfielder Natalie Ray.
By grabbing the lead late in the game, the Nighthawks had Lee on its heels in the seventh inning. Junior starting pitcher Chloe Poss worked around a one-out single as she coaxed a groundout double play to end the game.
Poss was spectacular in her fourth start after missing time with an injury. For the first time since returning to the lineup, the Thomson, Ga. native threw a complete game. She allowed one earned run on just four hits and zero walks while striking out three Flames hitters.
Game 2: Nighthawks def. Flames, 2-1
After clawing back to the late win in game one, UNG took scoring matters into its own hands in the finale.
Knowles broke the game's scoreless tie in the third inning as she followed Ray's two-out double with a single to right center to make it 1-0.
After Tuesday's 4-for-5, one home run, three RBIs performance the doubleheader, Knowles not only leads the nation in homers but also ranks second with 55 RBIs on the year.
The Nighthawks strung together quality at bats with two outs again in the fourth inning to scratch across their second run of the game.
Roberts recorded the first triple of her career to keep the inning alive with two outs. Sophomore outfielder Kaitlyn Johnson then worked a walk to pass the baton to Reaves.
The center fielder poked a single through the right side of the infield to bring in Roberts for a critical insurance run and make it 2-0.
The only blemish of the day for UNG's senior starting pitcher Angelina Badalament came in the sixth inning on a solo home run.
However, Badalament had pitched around the Lee lineup marvelously all day and continued to do so as she closed the game for her 17th victory of the year. The Plant City, Fla. native threw seven innings with just four hits allowed, one walk and a strikeout. Her 17 victories this season are tied for sixth in the nation.
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