Article By: Staff
For the first time since 2015, the No. 1 ranked University of North Georgia (UNG) softball team is headed to the NCAA Division II Softball Championship.
The Nighthawks earned a place in the national title game after coming from behind to beat Young Harris College, 2-1, on May 18 in the Southeast Super Regional at Haines & Carolyn Hill Stadium in Dahlonega, Georgia.
The victory was the second game in the best of three series. UNG won the first game, 2-0, on May 17 with two solo homers from Alishia Frierson and Shelby Hammontree.
In the second game on Friday, the Mountain Lions struck first. In the fourth inning, Young Harris used three singles to earn the game's first run. UNG got runners in scoring position in three innings without scoring a run.
In the sixth inning, UNG's Kaylyn Anthony hit a solo shot that never got higher than seven feet off the ground, just clearing the fence to tie the game, 1-1.
The Nighthawks took the lead for good as Hobby Gregory came sliding into home on a double steal to give UNG the margin it needed to advance in the tournament.
Young Harris got a runner to third in the final frame, but a groundout to senior Brittany Gilliam clinched the win, allowing the celebration to begin.
During the game, Kylee Smith earned her 35th win of the year, surrendering one run off five hits and three walks while striking out eight.
The one-run lead for Young Harris was the first time UNG had trailed in a game since the regular season finale against Flagler when UNG trailed, 1-0, for a half inning before the Nighthawks scored four in the next half inning.
With the win, UNG officially won the Battle of Blood Mountain for the fifth-straight year.
Now, the Nighthawks will head to Salem, Virginia, for the 2018 NCAA Division II Softball Championship. The team's first game will be 11 a.m. May 24.
Game 1: University of North Georgia vs. Southern Indiana
When: 11 a.m. Thursday, May 24
Where: Salem, Virginia
