DAHLONEGA, Ga., - The Auburn University at Montgomery softball team stunned No. 1-ranked North Georgia 3-0 and 7-6 on the road on Tuesday afternoon, marking the first time since joining the NCAA DII ranks that AUM has defeated a national No. 1 team.

With two wins against the Nighthawks, the Warhawks improve their 2021 record to 23-5 and now have a record of 4-4 against nationally-ranked teams.

The Warhawks found themselves locked in another pitchers duel to start game one of the series as two teams split 12 hits in the contest.

Bailie Barnes was outstanding once again in game one, spinning 4.2 strong innings against the top-ranked Nighthawks. Chanel Newcomer was excellent in relief, throwing the rest of the game and holding North Georgia off the board.

Barnes was matched up against one of the best arms NCAA DII has to offer and competed with her throughout the contests. Her first sign of trouble came in the third inning when UNG had runners on the corners in a scoreless game, but Barnes was able to net a strikeout after falling behind 3-0 to get out of the jam.

The Warhawks responded by getting two runners on base with two outs in the top of the fourth, but North Georgia was able to walk away without surrendering a run to keep the game tied at zero after a strikeout.

AUM's next chance at offense came in the top of the fifth. After a one-out walk and a stolen base from Parker Pinholster, junior shortstop Olivia Aycock singled through the infield to score Pinholster, giving AUM their first lead of the afternoon.

After North Georgia loaded the bases, Newcomer came in relief of Barnes and was able to strand the bases loaded without allowing a run to keep UNG off the board heading into the sixth.

The first two batters of the sixth inning sparked enough offense that would last the Warhawks the rest of the game. After a leadoff single from Abby Krueger, freshman Kathryn Fallen was called upon to pinch-hit and then laced a ball over the center-field wall to give the Orange & Black a three-run lead.

A one-out single in the bottom of the seventh was not enough to overcome the 3-0 deficit for North Georgia, as Newcomer was able to nail down the win for AUM in game one.

Allie Miller continues to prove that she is one of the best players in the GSC as she put together a 4-5 effort against North Georgia in game two, including the game-winning RBI single to clinch the doubleheader sweep.

The starting pitching was a strong point again for AUM as Alanna Goble was called to start game two and went five innings, giving up just three hits while recording a pair of strikeouts.

AUM struck first and face in the doubleheader finale. With Pinholster and Hannah Dailey on base in the top of the third, Miller brought them both home with an RBI single to promptly give AUM a 2-0 lead.

A Molly Cobb single brought home Miller two batters later, while a Fallen single to center scored Aycock and Gracie Harris to cap off a five-run inning for the Warhawks.

North Georgia began their comeback in the top of the fourth with a two-run home run to cut the AUM lead to 5-2.

AUM was able to get an insurance run that would prove valuable later in the game when a Morgan Duschell dying quail landed in the middle of three Nighthawks, scoring Cobb and giving the Warhawks a 6-2 lead.

The Warhawks carried a 6-4 lead into the bottom of the seventh, but after Barnes loaded the bases, head coach Eric Newell called upon Newcomer to get the final out. With two away, Newcomer hit the next three batters to tie the game.

An incredible play from Aycock sent the game into the eighth inning after spearing a ground ball and preventing the winning run to score.

After a leadoff single from Gia Martin, Dailey was able to move her to second base with a sacrifice bunt, allowing Miller to drive home the eventual winning run from second base.

Newcomer gained the trust of the coaching staff to go out and close the game in the eighth. The senior was aided by a spectacular catch from Miller in foul territory and was able to clinch the doubleheader sweep of the top team in the country.

The Warhawks will return to the AUM Softball Complex to square off against Gulf South Conference foe Delta State in a three-game series. Game one is scheduled for Friday, April 9, at 6 p.m.

For the latest on AUM athletics, find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.