Powered by a clutch relief outing from Cierra Kinlaw (12-12) and a dramatic go-ahead home run from Jaden Goodwin, USCB bounced back from an early defeat to stun No. 8 North Georgia 7-5 on Saturday afternoon at Richard Gray, securing their spot in the postseason.

After falling 7-3 in the opener, the Sand Sharks responded with grit and resilience in a wild nightcap that included a marathon lightning delay and a fierce comeback from the nationally-ranked Nighthawks.

North Georgia struck first in game one, scratching across a run in the opening frame. But USCB showed their fight, rallying in the third behind a two-run single from Goodwin to snatch a 2-1 lead. Tamiyah Whitlock's RBI double briefly put the Sand Sharks back on top after a UNG sacrifice fly, but the Nighthawks answered with Journey Roberts' go-ahead home run and two insurance runs to pull away.

Refusing to let the opportunity slip away, USCB came out swinging in game two. Goodwin delivered an RBI single to put the Sand Sharks ahead early, and after UNG tied it up in the third, Alyssa Rose launched a towering three-run homer to left field. Saria Simmons later crossed the plate on a wild pitch to extend the lead to 5-1.

The Nighthawks battled back once again, plating four runs in the fifth to even the score just before a lengthy lightning delay halted play for over two hours. When the teams returned, it was Kinlaw's moment to shine.

The senior southpaw kept the powerful UNG bats quiet, tossing a clean sixth to set the stage for Goodwin's heroics. The sophomore slugger stepped up with a towering two-run blast to reclaim the lead for the Sand Sharks. Kinlaw finished the job in the seventh, working around a one-out single to seal the historic win.

USCB will look to cap off the series on a high note with the finale set for Sunday at noon, followed by Senior Day festivities to honor the program's first-ever postseason team.