UNG picked to win Peach Belt Conference Softball title

AUGUSTA, Ga. – After picking up the No. 5 spot in the national preseason poll earlier this week, the University of North Georgia softball team has been picked to win the Peach Belt Conference regular season title in the preseason coaches poll, the league announced Thursday. Additionally, Gracie Mixson, Mallory Parker and Olivia Sinquefield were each named to the Preseason All-Conference Team.
North Georgia received all seven first-place votes available to them for a maximum 56 points in the coaches poll. Columbus State and Young Harris were tied for second place with 46 points each with Flagler in fourth and Georgia Southwestern in fifth. Augusta, Georgia College, Lander and USC Aiken rounded out the voting.
North Georgia seeks to continue their historic run of success in the Peach Belt. The Nighthawks have won seven straight PBC regular-season championships and seven straight PBC Tournament titles, both the longest such streaks in PBC history. For 2022, UNG will have to contend with the loss of six All-Conference graduates and return a roster with no seniors and two juniors. However, the Nighthawks bring back half of their starting lineup, including two All-Conference performers.
Mixson, a sophomore from Canton, Georgia, was a first-team All-Conference selection at third base in 2021 and was also named to the PBC All-Tournament Team. She hit .364 with five doubles, one home run and 10 RBI in 2021, ranking 10th in the PBC in batting average. Mixson hit .500 in four games at the NCAA National Championship tournament, including a 3-for-3 outing against Biola in the national semifinal round. She was named an NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete and a PBC Presidential Honor Roll Silver Scholar.
Parker, a sophomore from Kennesaw, Georgia, hit .315 with nine doubles, four triples, two home runs and 22 RBI last season. She tied for second in the PBC in triples and had nine multi-hit games last year, including against Saint Anselm in the NCAA National Championships. Parker also had five RBI against Shorter, the second-most RBI by any player in the PBC in a single game.
Sinquefield, a junior from Phenix City, Alabama, was a second-team All-Conference selection in 2021 after hitting .305 with 10 doubles, two home runs and 30 RBI, stealing 14 bases in 15 attempts as well. She ranked fifth in the PBC in stolen bases, sixth in hits, second in sacrifice bunts; second in putouts and sixth in fielding percentage and also led the PBC in double plays turned. Sinquefield was also named a PBC Presidential Honor Roll Bronze Scholar and named to the Team of Academic Distinction.
North Georgia will open up the season at the Gulf Shores Invitational, starting Saturday, February 5, against Delta State at 4:15 p.m. EST.