DAHLONEGA, Ga. – UVa-Wise softball was run-ruled in two games Friday afternoon at 13th-ranked and defending national champion University of North Georgia. The Cavaliers (5-4) were defeated 8-0 in six innings by the host Nighthawks (19-4) in game one of the doubleheader before dropping a 10-2 decision after five innings in game two.
 
The Cavs were limited to two hits in game one as the Nighthawks earned 11 and used a four-run sixth inning to claim the victory.
 
North Georgia's Brittani Crawford got things going for the Nighthawks in the bottom of the second when she smacked a two-run homer over the center field wall. The Nighthawks tacked on another run in the bottom of the third to go up 3-0 after Meredith Heyer singled to left center field, bringing home Whitney Worth from second base. Worth was pinch running for Jessica Finch who had doubled to right center.
 
North Georgia pushed its lead to 4-0 in the bottom of the fourth after a RBI single up the middle by Alexis Collis brought Kelly Kahlert in. With the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth, North Georgia's Stephanie Hartness hit a double to left field to clear the bases and give the Nighthawks a 7-0 advantage. The game went final at 8-0 due to the run rule after Kaycie Oakley scored on a fielder's choice.  
 
Sophomore third baseman Samantha Ely (Jonesville, Va.) and senior second baseman Alexa Hernandez (Woodbridge, Va.) were the only two Cavs with hits in the game.
 
Junior right-handed pitcher Emily Kale (Shelby, N.C.) took the loss for UVa-Wise in four innings pitched, dropping her to 2-2 on the year. North Georgia's Courtney Poole improved to 17-0 in the circle this season after five and two-thirds innings of work.
 
The Cavs were held to just four hits in game two but managed to score two runs as North Georgia collected 13 hits and 10 runs. A three-run third and a four-run fifth gave the Nighthawks seven of their scores.
 
The host team took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first after a Hartness RBI double to right center field allowed Meagan May to score, that was soon followed by Hartness stealing home.
 
Both Finch and Heyer hit solo home runs in the bottom of the third before Crawford scored on a wild pitch to give the Nighthawks a 5-0 lead. The Cavs got three of their four hits in the top of the fourth as freshman right fielder Ava Hockey (Virginia Beach, Va.) and junior third baseman Olivia Cleary (Riner, Va.) each singled. Freshman right-handed pitcher Delany Turner (Leesburg, Va.) was walked to load the bases before freshman Jackie Yahner (Vienna, Va.) pinched hit for Hernandez, getting a two RBI single that brought home Hockey and Cleary.
 
Owning the 5-2 advantage, the Nighthawks added another run in the bottom of the fourth when Hartness brought in Worth on a RBI single. North Georgia got four more runs in the bottom of the fifth after Hayley Robinson and Heyer reached home plate off of an error by sophomore center fielder Zoe Millard (Glen Allen, Va.). A RBI single to center field by the Nighthawks' Oakley allowed Amanda Hawkins to score from second before Morgan Helton reached home from second on a Hartness RBI single up the middle. Helton's run was North Georgia's 10th of the contest and game-winning score due to the run rule.
 
Turner (2-1) took the loss for the Cavs after three innings of work, while the Nighthawks' Poole remained undefeated in the circle and improved her record to 18-0 this season after three innings pitched.
 
The Cavs continue play North Georgia's Captain D's Surf & Turf Classic Saturday when they take on Wingate University at 1 p.m. in Dahlonega, Georgia. UVa-Wise will also face Coker College later in the day at 5 p.m.
 
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