AIKEN, S.C. – The No. 11 University of North Georgia (UNG) softball team completed a sweep of USC Aiken in its Peach Belt Conference opening series with a 10-4 win on Sunday.

The six-run Nighthawk (16-4, 3-0 Peach Belt) win over the Pacers (11-12, 0-3 Peach Belt) marks the ninth straight win for UNG. Four of those nine have come by six or more runs. 

In Sunday's finale it was a six-run third inning that propelled UNG to the series sweep of USC Aiken.

The scoring started in the second inning in a 0-0 game as redshirt sophomore Tagen Levao-Maisonet untied the game with a two RBI single to right center.

The Pacers responded in the bottom of the frame with a two-run hit of their own, a double from Madison Rogers that tied the game 2-2.

The Nighthawk offense then exploded in the third inning. Junior center fielder Sydnee Reaves got into scoring position after a single and stolen base. She came around to score in the next at bat on a throwing error that allowed freshman second baseman Jenna Miles to reach second base.

The defensive miscues continued as Miles advanced to third on a passed ball before scoring on yet another error that allowed junior outfielder Natalie Ray to reach safely. 

With still nobody out in the inning, freshman catcher Carleigh Knowles stepped to the plate. Knowles has been a major threat offensively of late. On Sunday she smashed a two-run home run to make it 6-2 Nighthawks in the third.

Knowles now leads the Nighthawks with seven homers this season. A stunning six of them have come in the last five games. In a double header against Miles on Tuesday, Knowles homered twice in a 12-4 win in game one. In yesterday's twin billing against the Pacers she homered again in game one before launching two big flies in game two. 

Her two-run shot on Sunday capped off a six-homer week. The rookie went 12-for-17 (.706) with eight runs scored, a double, six home runs and 15 RBI in total this week. She clobbered the ball to the tune of a 1.284 slugging percentage with a .667 on-base percentage. Her 1.951 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) for the week contributed to her team-leading 1.409 OPS for the season. 

UNG still was not done in the third after Knowles' round tripper. Senior shortstop Rylie Moody kept the rally going with a single to left. She scored two batters later as junior pitcher Chloe Poss destroyed a ball right field for an RBI triple.

Levao-Maisonet then batted in her third runner of the game as her one-out single to center brought Poss across the plate. 

UNG led 8-2 after the big third inning. USC Aiken got a run back in the bottom of the inning on a solo shot from Mallory Shaver. 

More Pacer misplays in the field allowed the Nighthawks to build their lead in the fourth inning. 

After lead-off singles from Reaves and Miles, Ray reached on an error once more that allowed Reaves to score. Miles was then brought home on an RBI groundout from Moody to make it 10-3.

Poss then retired 11 of 13 batters faced in the final four innings  to keep USC Aiken at bay and seal her fifth win of the season and her team's 16th. 

UNG now returns home for a big midweek doubleheader at Haines & Carolyn Hill Stadium at Lynn Cottrell Park on Wednesday against No. 2 Auburn Montgomery. The Warhawks enter Dahlonega at 15-3 on the season in the midst of a seven-game win streak. First pitch from The Hill in game one is set for 2 p.m.