AIKEN, S.C. – The No. 11 University of North Georgia (UNG) softball team swept USC Aiken 6-4 and 23-9 in its first Peach Belt Conference doubleheader of the season in Aiken, S.C. on Saturday. 

The Nighthawks (15-4, 2-0 Peach Belt) took down the Pacers (11-11, 0-2 Peach Belt) 6-4 in game one with some clutch defense in the late innings.

In game two, it was UNG's explosive offense that lit up USC Aiken for 23 runs behind three home runs and a total of 10 extra base hits. The game marked the second time this season UNG has put up 23 runs in a game which is the most in the NCAA Division II era in program history and the most in program history since 2005. 

The series concludes tomorrow, Sunday, Mar. 2 at 12 p.m.

Game 1: Nighthawks def. Pacers, 6-4
The PBC opener on Saturday saw UNG get on the scoreboard first in the opening inning as junior outfielder Natalie Ray brought in the first run on a groundout back to the pitcher.

The Pacers quickly tied the game in the bottom of the inning with an RBI single from Mallory Shaver.

The Nighthawks added a pair of runs the next inning on a two-run single from junior center fielder Sydnee Reaves to make it 3-1. 

In the third inning, freshman catcher Carleigh Knowles pounded her fourth home run of the season. Her two-run blast to center field extended the Nighthawk lead to four runs.

That score would remain until the bottom of the fourth when Madison Rogers brought USC Aiken back to life with a three-run home run to make it 5-4.

In the bottom of the fifth with the Pacers still trailing by a run, UNG faced its toughest defensive situation of the game as a walk and two singles loaded the bases with nobody out in the frame. 

However, Nighthawk junior pitcher Chloe Poss got Cameron Greene to ground the ball to third base. UNG sophomore third baseman Journey Roberts scooped the ball and threw to the catcher Knowles for one out. Knowles then turned and gunned the ball to first base for the second out. 

Poss forced another grounder in the next at bat as Anna Turner sent one right back to her in the circle. The pitcher fielded her position and threw to first to complete the play and get the Nighthawks out of the jam.

UNG then added an insurance run in the top of the seventh on a pinch-hit, RBI single from junior outfielder Katelyn Johnston that brought Ray in to score the added run. 

Poss pitched a scoreless seventh inning as she worked around a one-out double to complete the victory and earn her second save of the season. Poss did not allow a run in 3.2 innings as she walked one batter and struck out two.

Game 2: Nighthawks def. Pacers, 23-9 (5 Inn.)
If game one was a marathon of low run scoring offense and big defensive plays on both sides, game two was a sprint to the finish line highlighted by an abundance of offense.

A total of 12 runs were scored between the two teams in the first inning alone as the frame ended in a 6-6 draw after the first six outs were recorded.

UNG put up its big inning behind a two-run double from Ray, a two-run homer from Knowles (her second of the day), a sacrifice fly from Roberts and a wild pitch in which junior left fielder Kaitlyn Johnson scored.

The Pacers responded with a three-run homer, a two-run double and an unearned run on an error in the bottom of the inning.

The bats showed no signs of cooling off in the second inning as freshman second baseman Jenna Miles led things off with a single followed by another double from Ray.

Knowles then stepped to the plate again. For the third time in just a few hours, the rookie catcher launched another home run, this time over the wall in left center field. The three-run blast marked Knowles second multi-homer game in the last four games as she accomplished the feat on Tuesday against Miles. 

Knowles joined Reaves as the only UNG hitters with a multi-home run game this season as she surpassed Reaves with six total long bombs on the year to lead the team. Her shot on Saturday made it 9-6 in the second inning.

The Pacers got a run back on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the inning to make it 9-7.

Knowles did not stop the production in the third as her bases-loaded pop up to second base brought in one more run in the form of a sac fly to make it 10-7. 

With two runners still on the bases, senior shortstop Rylie Moody then ripped a single up the middle to clear the bases and put the Nighthawks ahead by five runs. Moody eventually came around to score on a bases-loaded walk to junior first baseman Marycille Brumby.

The Pacers added their final runs of the game in the third inning with an RBI single and a successful double steal.

UNG was unfazed in the fourth as Ray clobbered a ball down the right field line for an RBI triple. Knowles then added yet another RBI with a single through the left side. Moody doubled to center to bring Knowles home. A bunt single from Johnson put Moody on third before redshirt sophomore right fielder Tagen Levao-Maisonet brought both runners in to score with a double to the gap in right center field. 

Suddenly the Nighthawks had added five more runs making the score 18-9 before recording an out in the fourth inning. They were still not done as both Roberts and Reaves singled in consecutive at bats to add two more runs.

UNG celebrated the surefire win in the fifth inning when freshman outfielder Kayla Berry joined in on the fun with the first home run of her collegiate career. With two on and two out, the Acworth, Ga. native smashed a ball down the line and over the right field wall for a three-run bomb. 

The rookie's first homer of the season gave the Nighthawks a 23-9 victory as the team tied the DII era program run record in its second 23-run game of the season.