DAHLONEGA, Ga. – A pair of costly errors by Flagler College helped No. 5 (NFCA Division II Top 25) University of North Georgia escape with a 4-2 win in a Peach Belt Conference Tournament semifinal Saturday afternoon at the Haines & Carolyn Hill Stadium.

North Georgia (41-10) advances to the tournament championship game where it will face Georgia Southwestern State University this evening. Flagler's season comes to an end with a 31-23 record.

The Nighthawks scored single runs in the first and second innings, and Kylee Smith (26-2) was on a roll having retired the first nine batters she faced.

NaJah Gerrald hit an infield single to start the fourth to breakup Smith's no-hit bid.

The Saints broke through in the fifth. Natalie Murphy led off the inning with a single to left. Morgan Murphy followed by popping up to shortstop, but Tabitha Formon, who was in to pinch run for Natalie Murphy, drew an errant throw from the shortstop, which allowed Formon to go to second. Two batters later, Anna Dumovich socked her second home run of the season, over the left-center field wall, to tie the game.

However, in the bottom of the sixth, North Georgia was able to score a pair of unearned runs.

Katie Collins drew a lead-off walk. Lexi Duncan dropped down a sacrifice bunt that Flagler pitcher Kyra Gipson fielded, but the throw was too high to first base and allowed both runners to move up a base. Gipson got the next batter to pop up to second for the first out of the inning. Shelby Hammontree also put down a bunt to first baseman Natalie Murphy who tried to flip the ball to Dumovich to get the runner charging down the third base line. Kelly Kahlert, who came in to pinch run for Collins, just beat the flip and give North Georgia a 3-2 lead. On the play, Duncan advanced to third and Hammontree took second base.

A sacrifice fly gave the Nighthawks just enough insurance for the final inning.

Smith retired all three Flagler batters to end the game. She struck out the last two hitters, which was part of her 11 strikeout tally in the game. Smith scattered five hits and allowed two runs.

Kaylyn Anthony collected two singles while Hobby Gregory also had two hits, but also scored a run.

Gipson (19-11) allowed just one earned run and six hits. She retired 13 batters on fly outs and another five on ground outs.

Genevieve Mangini and Tatum Morgan had the other base hits for the Saints. Both were selected to the all-tournament team.


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