NCAA Softball Tournament Runs End for SAC Teams

North Georgia 2, Wingate 1

DAHLONEGA, Ga .- The top-seeded and second-ranked Nighthawks of North Georgia defeated fourth-seeded Wingate University 2-1 Sunday afternoon on day three of the NCAA Southeast Region Tournament. North Georgia wins the Dahlonega regional, improving to 46-9 on the year. Wingate ends its season at 38-20 overall.

The Nighthawks advance to take on the Armstrong Atlantic, who went undefeated in the Anderson half of the Southeast regional. The 38 victories for the Bulldogs in 2014 are the most since the 2006 season, when Wingate won 47 games.

Ansley Phillips was two-for-three with a double and an RBI to lead the North Georgia attack. Victoria Prince and Kim McMillan each added a hit for the Nighthawks.

Sophomore infielder Mellena Helms (Concord, N.C.) was two-for-three with a run scored to lead the Wingate attack. Senior designated player Kayla Saliga (Asheboro, N.C.) added a hit for the Bulldogs.

North Georgia jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Taylor Anne Merritt drew a walk to start the inning, then scored on an RBI double from Phillips.

Wingate answered in the bottom of the frame. Helms led off the inning with a single, then went to second on a sacrifice. She scored on a North Georgia error to make it 1-1.

A Wingate error and sacrifice put a runner on second with one out in the top of the third for the Nighthawks. Another Wingate error allowed the run to score, giving North Georgia a 2-1 lead.

The Bulldogs got two on with one out in the fourth thanks to an error and single, but North Georgia starter Courtney Poole got out of the jam with a pair of strikeouts.

Poole got the win, moving to 22-8 on the year. She allowed a run on three hits in seven innings of work, striking out four without walking a batter. Freshman left-hander Taylor Bates (Peachland, N.C.) took the loss, falling to 10-10. She allowed one earned run on four hits in seven innings of work, striking out one and walking one.

Wingate 3, Lenoir-Rhyne 1

DAHLONEGA, Ga .- For the fifth time this season, the Wingate University Bulldogs defeated the Bears of Lenoir-Rhyne University. Wingate defeated No. 24 Lenoir-Rhyne 3-1 Sunday afternoon on Day three of the NCAA Southeast Region tournament, ending the season for the Bears. Wingate improves to 38-19 overall, while LRU ends its season at 40-15 overall.

The Bulldogs advance to take on top-seeded and second-ranked North Georgia Sunday at 2:30 p.m. If Wingate wins, the two teams will play again Sunday, with the winner advancing out of the Dahlonega regional.

Sophomore infielder Emily Usiak (Matthews, N.C.) was two-for-three with a double and two RBI to lead the Wingate attack. Freshman infielder Katie McLaurin (Laurinburg, N.C.) went two-for-two with a double, RBI and run scored, while sophomore outfielder Jordan Wilson (Gastonia, N.C.) was one-for-two with two runs scored.

LRU got on the board in the top in the top of the first, with Jody Mizelle drawing a leadoff walk, then stealing second. She scored on an RBI single from Ashley Oliver to make it 1-0.

Wingate tied the game in the second, when Wilson was hit by a pitch to start the inning, then went to second on a sacrifice. She would score on Usiak's RBI double down the left field line to make it 1-1.

The Bulldogs took the lead in the fourth, starting with a one-out single from Wilson. She scored on McLaurin's RBI double to make it 2-1. Usiak's RBI single put the 'Dogs on top by two.

Lenoir-Rhyne posted a threat in the sixth, loading the bases with one out via two singles and a walk. Sophomore right-hander Stacey Houser (Mooresville, N.C.) got out of the jam by inducing a pair of pop-outs. The Bears got a lead-off walk in the seventh, but a strike-out, a line-out and a fly-out ended the game.

Houser got the win, her fifth of the year against Lenoir-Rhyne. The first team All-SAC selection allowed a run on four hits in seven innings of work, striking out four and walking four to notch her 50th career win. She is 26-10 on the season.Brandi Hole took the loss for LRU, allowing three runs on six hits in six innings, striking out two and walking two.

USC Aiken 5, Anderson 0

ANDERSON, S.C. – Early miscues and a stellar performance in the circle by USC Aiken pitcher India Kornegay proved too much to overcome, as the second-seeded Anderson softball team fell, 5-0, to No. 6 seeded USC Aiken in NCAA Southeast Regional Softball Tournament action, Sunday afternoon at Smethers Field.

USC Aiken improved to 34-15 on the season and advanced to meet third-seeded Armstrong Atlantic State later in the afternoon. The Trojans, who were eliminated from the tourney with the setback, ended their campaign with a 43-12 record, which marked the most wins in school history.

Kornegay, a First-Team All-Peach Belt Conference honoree, limited the potent Trojan offense to just one hit on the afternoon, as the senior improved to 23-5 on the season. She recorded 11 strikeouts on the afternoon, while walking four.

Anderson junior second baseman Jessica Neidigh posted AU's lone hit – a two-out infield single in the fifth inning - while also adding a fifth-inning walk. Senior Abby Child also posted a pair of walks.

Freshman hurler Augie Pena (8-2) absorbed the loss for Anderson, surrendering five runs (one earned) on seven hits in five full innings of work. She struck out three Pacers and did not walk a batter. Fellow freshman Lauren Rudesheim tossed the final two innings for the Trojans, while striking out one and walking one.

After a scoreless first inning, the Pacers batted around in the top of the second frame, taking advantage of three singles and three Trojan miscues to provide all the scoring in the contest.