Dahlonega, Ga. – The Lenoir-Rhyne Softball Team (46-13), ranked No. 13 in the NCAA Division II, saw its season come to an end with an 8-3 setback to third-ranked North Georgia (45-11) Friday afternoon in an elimination game of the 2017 NCAA Division II Southeast Regional Tournament at Haines & Carolyn Hill Stadium.

North Georgia, the host school and top seed in the regional tournament, will face Limestone (45-11) in the championship Saturday at Noon.  The Nighthawks downed eighth-seeded North Greenville (36-19) by a 2-0 score in an elimination contest immediately after the Bears' contest.

North Georgia's Hannah McSwain (Loganville, Ga.) hit a two-run home run while Kayla Smith (Suwanee, Ga.) improved to 21-4 on the year after earning the win as the host Nighthawks staved off elimination.

Lenoir-Rhyne, which lost its fourth straight game, was led by senior catcher and league player of the year Sarah Kenley (Charlotte, N.C.) with a solo home run and junior shortstop Madison Carter (Bessemer City, N.C.) with three hits and an RBI.  Freshman Sydney Miller (East Bend, N.C.) (14-9) was tagged with the loss for the Bears.

Stephanie Hartness (Niceville, Fla.) added three hits including a run-scoring triple for North Georgia, who jumped out to a 6-1 advantage after four innings of play and never looked back.