DAHLONEGA, Ga.  |  Grace Botti hit a three-run shot over the fence in left center field and Nikkie Kovalsky threw a complete-game shutout as the Young Harris College softball team defeated Coker University 6-0 in the first round of the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional Thursday (May 9) afternoon at Haines and Carolyn Hill Stadium. 

The No. 5-seeded Mountain Lions improved to 38-17, while the No. 4-seeded Cobras fell to 31-18. Young Harris will face No. 5-ranked and top ranked  University of North Georgi, which defeated No. 8-seeded Lees-McRae College 2-0 in the other first round contest, in the second round at noon on Friday (May 10). 

Botti connected with the 1-1 pitch to left center field drive in three runs for her fifth home run of the season. 

The Mountain Lions picked up three more runs in the third inning that started with a single down the left field line from Katelynn Hodges. Morgan Curley drew a bases-loaded walk and Emily Harris concluded the inning with a RBI ground out to third that scored Kristan Lizardi.

Kovalsky (24-10) picked up the win for Young Harris as she threw a complete game shutout with three hits, one walk, and five strikeouts. 

Botti went 2-for-3 with three RBI and a run scored. Hodges collected two hits and drove in a run, while Curley and Harris had one RBI each. Michalyn Bingham and Lizardi each tallied two hits and a run scored.

Christine Carver (9-9) earned the loss for Coker as she gave up three runs on three hits with four walks and two strikeouts in 1.2 innings pitched.