GREENWOOD, S.C. - The streak continues as the No. 17 University of North Georgia softball team won twice Sunday to capture an eighth straight Peach Belt Conference Tournament Championship.
SEMIFINAL - UNG 9, YHC 3
Young Harris was first to the scoreboard in UNG's tournament opener, scoring a trio of runs in the first inning off a bases loaded walk, an infield single and a Nighthawk error to take an early 3-0 lead. That was all the Mountain Lions would get as North Georgia's offense swarmed over the rest of the contest.
The Nighthawks got across the scoreboard first off a Madi Perry single in the second inning to cut the lead down to 3-1 before UNG exploded in the third. The inning's scoring started with a three-run blast by Mallory Parker to take a 4-3 lead. Later in the frame, Gracie Mixson doubled to score two more before Perry singled to score a sixth run in the inning to take a 7-3 lead. Georgia Blair homered in the fifth to score two more to finish up the scoring.
Jordan Warzynski (5-2) got the win in relief, tossing four innings of one-hit softball and fanning two.
CHAMPIONSHIP - UNG 8, CSU 0 (5 inn.)
After Columbus State needed 11 innings to get past Lander in the semifinal, North Georgia took full advantage of the rest, putting up six runs in the second inning of the championship game. The Nighthawks loaded up the bases before Blair got hit by a pitch and Perry walked to take a 2-0 lead. After a Jolie Lester sacrifice fly, Madison Simmons homered to bring home three more runs, pushing the lead to 6-0.
The Nighthawks walked it off in the fifth as Lester doubled with the bases loaded to score a pair, giving UNG their eighth straight tournament crown.
Kristen Davis (15-4) tossed a one-hitter, striking out four along the way.
NOTES
- Simmons, Mixson and Davis were each named to the All-Tournament Team.
- Mixson finished the tournament going 4-for-4 at the plate.
- The eight straight tournament championships continues the record streak in league history.
NEXT UP
North Georgia will enter their 14th straight NCAA Southeast Regional, having made the postseason in every year since gaining NCAA postseason eligibility. The Nighthawks will find out their seed and location tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. on the NCAA.com selection show. UNG was No. 3 in last week's regional rankings with the top two teams idle this week.
Softball All-Tournament Team
Emily Ayers, USC Aiken
Zoe Willis, Georgia Southwestern
Maddie Childs, Flagler
Grace Young, Young Harris
Abbie Behe, Lander
Madeline Parker, Columbus State
Madison Simmons, North Georgia
Kristen Davis, North Georgia
Gracy Mixon, North Georgia
Tournament MVP
Hannah Rose Corbin, Columbus State