The Lady Tiger softball team has opened the season with a spectacular 6-1 start after defeating Lumpkin County 2-1 Aug. 17 in Dahlonega.
Dawson scored its runs in the fourth and fifth innings to secure the win.
The Lady Indians tried to make a game of it in the seventh inning after scoring the team's lone run, but Dawson pitcher Jenna Abbott was too overpowering.
Abbott locked down the Lumpkin hitters all afternoon and finished with 12 strikeouts and only two walks. The Lady Indians managed only three hits in the contest with two of those hits coming in the last inning.
The junior also had an RBI in the fifth inning on a single to left center that drove in teammate Kimberly Wallace from third base.
Wallace reached on a walk to lead off the inning.
After an illegal pitch moved Wallace to second, she reached third on a passed ball before crossing the plate for the Lady Tigers' second run.
Head Coach Jimmy Pruett's team got on the scoreboard first in the fourth inning.
Shortstop Samantha Moulder, playing on a sore hamstring, singled and then stole second base. Carly Gilreath then singled up the middle scoring Moulder from second base.
The Lady Tigers also threatened in the third inning.
Natalie Burt singled to start the inning off. A successful sacrifice bunt by Martie Rogers moved Burt to second base. Burt was then caught stealing third base for the second out.
Morgan Huber kept the inning going with a bunt hit of her own. Wallace and Abbott walked, which set up a bases loaded situation for Dawson County. With leftfielder Kristi Hyams at the plate, the Lady Tigers had a chance to break things open. Unfortunately Hyams jumped on a first pitch changeup and popped up to the Lady Indians catcher to end the inning.
Dawson had eight hits in the contest.
"We still have some little fundamental things to work on," Pruett said. "Missing signs from the coaches is one of them. Hitting the cutoff is another one. But we have six wins and only one loss and I think that is pretty good."
The Lady Tigers had some time off before facing the first Region 8-AA game of the season Thursday against Rabun County.
Next Tuesday, Dawson will travel to Gainesville to play another region game at East Hall.
Both games will start at 5:55 p.m.