Kylee Smith’s complete game showing for the No. 1 University of North Georgia softball team wasn’t enough against Southern Indiana in a 1-0 loss to open the NCAA Division II Softball Championship on Thursday in Salem, Virginia. Southern Indiana pitcher Jennifer Leonhardt recorded 11 strikeouts.
Smith threw all seven innings and struck out six batters for the Nighthawks, who saw a 19-game win streak snapped.
Smith and Leonhardt each went the first four frames without yielding a baserunner before the Screaming Eagles finally broke through in the top of the sixth. Following a North Georgia error, Southern Indiana connected for a one-run single to take the lead.
Leonhardt allowed just one hit.
North Georgia (61-3) continues in the loser’s bracket with a game against West Chester at 4 p.m. today.