Knowles Named PBC Player of the Week
DAHLONEGA -- No. 8 University of North Georgia (UNG) softball freshman catcher Carleigh Knowles has been named as the Peach Belt Conference Player of the Week the league office announced Monday.
Knowles put together yet another collection of outstanding performances last week that were highlighted by a weekend sweep of Georgia College.
In the opener of the series on Friday, Knowles blasted two home runs as she went 2-for-3 at the plate with three RBIs in a 13-6 win.
She came back less than 24 hours later and belted three more home runs in a doubleheader sweep.
In total for the week, Knowles went 9-for-15 (.660) at the dish with nine runs scored, a double, five home runs and a whopping 12 RBIs. She posted a 1.667 slugging percentage (SLG) for the week.
She homered in 55.6 percent of at bats against the Bobcats, totaling a 2.667 SLG on the weekend alone.
Knowles now has 17 homers on the season which is tied for the most in the country among all NCAA Division-II hitters. It also ties the NCAA era program record for the third most home runs in a season. The current record for most homers in a single year stands at 19. Knowles is on pace to break that before the regular season ends.
Along with leading the nation in home runs, the true freshman ranks fourth nationally this season in slugging (.967) and total bases (116). She's fifth among all hitters across the country with 52 RBI and also ranks 15th with 45 runs scored. She ranks third in the league or better in those categories, leading the PBC in SLG, on-base plus slugging (1.448), RBIs and home runs.
Knowles had already become the first player in program history to win a Player of the Week and two Freshman of the Week (three total awards) in the same season. With her fourth weekly honor this season, the catcher is just the second player in PBC history to win two Player and Freshman of the Week awards in one year.
Knowles and the Nighthawks take the field again on Tuesday, April 8 for a neutral site doubleheader against Lee in Chattanooga, Tenn. The twin billing begins with first pitch in game one at 2 p.m. from Frost Stadium.
Latest Women's Softball Stories Feed
- UNG Boasts D2CCA All-American TrioDAHLONEGA – The No. 11 University of North Georgia (UNG) softball team had three players named to the Division 2 Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) All-America Teams per the association's announcement Thursday afternoon.
- No. 11 Nighthawks Drop 2025 NCAA Softball Championship Opener Against No. 20 SVSUCHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The No. 11 University of North Georgia (UNG) softball team suffered an extra-inning loss to No. 20 Saginaw Valley State (SVSU) in its first game of the 2025 NCAA Division II Softball Championship at Frost Stadium in Chattanooga, Tenn. Thursday afternoon.
- Knowles Named NFCA First Team All-American, Catcher of the YearDAHLONEGA – No. 11 University of North Georgia (UNG) softball freshman catcher Carleigh Knowles has been named a 2025 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II First Team All-American as announced by the association at the NCAA Division II National Championship Banquet Wednesday evening.
- Knowles Named 2025 NFCA Freshman of the YearDAHLONEGA – No. 11 University of North Georgia (UNG) softball freshman catcher Carleigh Knowles has been named the 2025 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II Freshman of the Year as announced by the association Tuesday afternoon.
- No. 11 North Georgia Claims Southeast Region Title, Punches Ticket To 2025 NCAA Softball ChampionshipFLORENCE, S.C. – The No. 11 University of North Georgia (UNG) softball team will return to the 2025 NCAA Softball Championship for the fourth time in the last five years after taking down No. 2 Francis Marion (FMU) in the final game of the 2025 NCAA Southeast Super Regional in Florence, S.C. on Friday.
- No. 11 Nighthawks Come Up Clutch In 5-4 Extra-Inning Win At No. 2 Francis MarionFLORENCE, S.C. – The No. 11 University of North Georgia (UNG) softball team pulled out a thrilling 5-4 win over No. 2 Francis Marion (FMU) in extra innings to open the 2025 NCAA Southeast Super Regional in Florence, S.C. Thursday afternoon.