DAHLONEGA, Ga. – The fifth-seeded Lander softball team saw its Peach Belt Conference Tournament run end on Saturday afternoon as the Bearcats lost to top-ranked and top-seeded North Georgia 8-0 in five innnings in the semifinals at Haines & Carolyn Hill Stadium. 

The Bearcats (32-18), who had won their previous 11 games, have posted the program's highest winning percentage since 1999. North Georgia (55-2) advances to the PBC Tournament championship against Columbus State. 

The Nighthawks took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on Jordan Deep's solo home run and pulled away with a five-run third inning.

UNG ended the game in the bottom of the fifth on a two-run homer from Sydney Sprague. 

McKenzi Ferguson (21-8) took the loss, allowing five runs on six hits with two walks and two strikeouts in 2.0 innings. Kyle Smith (29-1) earned the win, holding Lander to one hit with two walks and nine strikeouts in 5.0 innings of work.