Softball earns first-ever win over top-ranked team in Surf ‘N Turf Classic sweep

Dahlonega, Ga. —- The Catawba College softball team earned its first-ever win over the No. 1 ranked team in the country on Saturday afternoon, defeating top-ranked and defending NCAA Division II national champion North Georgia in game one before defeating West Georgia in a weather-shortened game two.

GAME ONE | Catawba 7, #1 North Georgia 6

TEAM STATS

- North Georgia out-hit Catawba 10-9

- The Nighthawks had eight of 12 extra-base hits in the game

- UNG had 13 of 15 stolen bases in the game

- Catawba's pitchers allowed six earned runs on 10 hits and four walks, striking out two; North Georgia's staff allowed seven earned runs on nine hits and five walks, striking out five

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

- Riley Tucker went 2-for-2 with a double, a triple, two walks and three runs scored

- Bri Herring was 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored

- Kary Hales also added two hits with a double, a walk and a run scored

- Courtnee Carter had an RBI single and a run scored

- Christina Brendle chipped in two hits as a pinch hitter and drove in a run

- Alex Baquie earned the win in the circle, allowing one earned run in 4.1 innings on four hits and two walks, striking out two

HOW IT HAPPENED

FIRST INNING

- Mallory Parker hit an RBI double to give UNG an early lead

- Tucker led off Catawba's half with a double, Bri Gallgher drove her in on a sac fly

THIRD INNING

- The Nighthawks added four runs in the third to take a 5-1 lead

- Tucker hit a one-out triple in the bottom half, and Herring drove her home with an RBI single

FOURTH INNING

- With runners on first and second with no one out, Carter singled to center to score a run, cutting the UNG lead to 5-3

- Brendle knocked a pinch-hit single to center field to score another

- Savanna Balderston hit a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 5

SEVENTH INNING

- Katie Ward hit a double to score the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh

- Tucker walked and Herring doubled to lead off the inning, leaving runners on second and third with nobody out

- Gallagher's fielder's choice scored the tying run

- With the bases loaded, Herring beat the throw home on the walk-off fielder's choice, giving Catawba its highest ranked win in program history

GAME TWO | Catawba 7, West Georgia 2 (6 innings)

TEAM STATS

- Catawba out-hit West Georgia 10-4

- The Catawba Indians had three of four extra-base hits

- Catawba had the lone stolen base of the game

- The Catawba Indian pitchers allowed two earned runs on four hits and seven walks, striking out two; the Wolves' staff allowed seven earned runs on 10 hits and five walks, striking out five

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

- Herring went 3-for-3 with a triple, two RBI and two runs scored

- Carter was 2-for-3 with a double and four RBI

- Tucker added two more hits with a double and a run scored

- Gallagher also went for multiple hits and a run scored

- Baquie earned her second win of the day, throwing two shutout innings on two hits and three walks, striking out two

HOW IT HAPPENED

SECOND INNING

- Herring singled to lead off the second and later stole second

- Carter's RBI single to left field scored Herring to give Catawba the early advantage

THIRD INNING

- An RBI single and RBI groundout quickly gave the Wolves the lead in the third

FIFTH INNING

- The Catawba Indians loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth

- After a fielder's choice cut the tying run at home, Hales drove in the tying run on an RBI groundout

- Herring's go-ahead triple scored two, as Catawba took a 4-2 lead

- Catawba walked the bases loaded and Carter cleared the bases on a double, blowing the game open to a 7-2 lead

SIXTH INNING

- The game was called due to rain after UWG's turn to bat in the sixth to give Catawba a 3-1 trip at the Captain D's Surf 'N Turf Classic 

UP NEXT

- Catawba kicks off a six-game week at Whitley Field on Tuesday, hosting Belmont Abbey for its home opener; game one is scheduled for a 1 p.m. first pitch