Nighthawks seek to fly high this spring
The University of North Georgia's (UNG) spring sports teams will look to continue their momentum as most of them start their seasons in early February.
In softball, UNG is coming off winning the NCAA Division II national championship in June, adding to the program's 2015 national title. Meanwhile, the men's golf team will aim for its third straight NCAA Championship appearance after finishing the fall season ranked No. 1 nationally.
"Our student-athletes continue to excel both athletically and academically," Mary Rob Plunkett, UNG director of athletics, said. "This spring will be no exception as our teams pursue national and conference titles once again."
Here is a quick look at what to expect:
Softball
Fresh off their national title season and a program-record 64 victories, the Nighthawks open the season at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 2 against the University of West Florida in the Gulf Shores Invitational in Gulf Shores, Alabama. It is the first of six contests in three days during the opening weekend.
The Nighthawks are also the preseason No. 1 team in the country in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association poll.
UNG's home opener is noon Feb. 9 against Catawba College at Haines & Carolyn Hill Stadium, which is the first of its six matchups that weekend in the Captain D's Surf 'N Turf Classic.
In addition to the national championship, the Nighthawks earned their ninth consecutive Peach Belt Conference (PBC) Tournament title in 2023.
Golf
Top-ranked nationally exiting the fall, the UNG men's golf team has six regular-season spring tournaments, starting Feb. 12-13 in the Lincoln Memorial University Spring Kickoff at St. John's Country Club in Jacksonville, Florida.
UNG hosts the PBC Championship for men and women from April 19-21 at Forest Hills Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia.
In spring 2023, the UNG men made the NCAA Championship by advancing out of the nation's toughest regional for the second year in a row.
The women's golf team will take part in five regular-season spring tournaments, beginning in the Florida Southern College Lady Moc Intercollegiate from Feb. 19-20 at Grasslands Country Club in Lakeland, Florida.
Baseball
The UNG baseball team starts its season with a 4 p.m. Feb. 2 home game against Mars Hill University at Bob Stein Stadium, the first of six home games in a row to start the season.
For the 2023 season, the Nighthawks were 29-24 overall and 16-14 in the PBC.
Tennis
Both tennis teams start their seasons at 2 p.m. Feb. 3 at Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City, Tennessee, before hosting Newberry College at 11 a.m. Feb. 10 at the UNG Tennis Complex at Yahoola Creek.
Each tennis team won a match in the 2023 NCAA Tournament.
Track and field
The Nighthawks begin the season March 2 at the Susan Souse Invitational hosted by Southern Wesleyan University in Central, South Carolina.
Learn more about each spring team and find schedules on the UNG Athletics website.
McGill takes reins as brigade commander
Grace McGill has been named Corps of Cadets brigade commander for 2026-27. She is also a captain on the UNG women's soccer team.
Softball team bounces back into Super Regional
The UNG softball team tallied four wins in a row after a loss in its NCAA tournament opener, setting up a May 21-22 home Super Regional matchup with Francis Marion.
Softball team wins PBC, will host NCAA regional
The UNG softball team secured its first Peach Belt Conference tournament title in three seasons and will be the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional.
Baseball team earns NCAA tourney bid
The UNG baseball team has earned a spot in the NCAA Division II tournament and opens the event against Francis Marion at 2 p.m. May 14 in Tigerville, South Carolina.