Box Score  

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.