The third-ranked North Georgia College & State University softball team ran their current winning streak to 12 games on Thursday evening, sweeping a doubleheader 3-1 and 4-1 at Lander University in Peach Belt Conference action.

The Saints reduce their magic number to three to claim the program's third straight Peach Belt Conference regular season title, sitting at 38-8 overall and 14-2 in league play.

Any combination of three North Georgia wins or Columbus State defeats will clinch the championship for the Saints.
North Georgia will have a chance to clinch a share of the title on Saturday afternoon, playing host to No. 22 Armstrong Atlantic in a doubleheader at Haines & Carolyn Hill Stadium.

Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Phil Niekro will be on hand to throw out the first pitch at 3:00 p.m. and sign autographs for fans as part of the institution's Parents-Alumni Weekend.

In the first game of Thursday's doubleheader, the defending PBC Pitcher of the Week Jessica Coan (19-3) earned the win after striking out 12, walking one and giving up just four hits in the complete seven innings.

North Georgia took the lead in the first inning after a double by Kasey Knight scored Ansley Williams to give the Saints a 1-0 edge.

Knight doubled the lead moments later as she advanced to third on a wild pitch and went home on an illegal pitch.
Katherine Martin's RBI single in the third plated Knight to stretch North Georgia's lead to 3-0.

In the second game, Sarah Phillips (14-4) was awarded the win after striking out three, walking one and allowing one earned run on five hits in the complete seven innings.

For North Georgia, Willemse went 2-for-3 and made it three home runs in the last four games for the senior, while Callie Fernandez and Knight each added a pair of hits.