The upset stomach. The so-so performance in biology class.

Must be Hickory-Great Bridge softball day.

Unfortunately for the Wildcats, nerves can’t score runs. So despite a case of game-day jitters brought on by one of the area’s best rivalries, the remarkable roll of Hawks ace Jennifer Gniadek continues.

Gniadek tossed a four-hitter, fanned 13 and posted her seventh straight shutout as top-ranked Hickory (10-0 overall, 9-0 Southeastern District) outdueled No. 2 Great Bridge 1-0 in a battle of unbeatens Thursday at Hickory.

‘’I told the kids before the game it was going to be a fistfight,’’ Hawks coach Ryan Wieck said. ‘’We were going to get their best shot and they were going to get ours. Typical Hickory-Great Bridge.’’

It was also typical Gniadek (8-0), the senior and Florida International University signee who hasn’t been scored on since surrendering a fifth inning run against Lakeland in the Hawks’ season opener on March 12. It’s the only run any Hawks pitcher has allowed through 10 games this season.

Not that Gniadek is keeping track.

‘’I’m just looking for the win,’’ she said. ‘’I don’t really care if it’s five shutouts, six shutouts or whatever it is.’’

‘’See what I mean?’’ Wieck said. ‘’She doesn’t even know she’s up to seven.’’

Despite her dominant streak, Gniadek was anything but confident in the hours leading up to the fierce-but-friendly Southeastern showdown, which features many players on both teams that have played together on various off-season squads for years.

‘’I was really nervous,’’ she said. ‘’I couldn’t even study. I had a biology test today. I failed it.’’

‘’She didn’t fail it,’’ said Wieck, the teacher that administered the test. ‘’Let’s just say she didn’t do as well as she usually does.’’

Gnaidek’s nervousness continued during pre-game drills.

‘’We were out there warming up and all she could talk about was how sick she felt,’’ Hawks catcher Michelle Leighton said. ‘’We didn’t know if it was the energy drink she had, or if it was just nerves.

‘’But once it was time for that first pitch, she was in game mode.’’

Great Bridge’s Ashley Reetz led off the game with an infield single. From there, however, Gniadek settled in and overpowered the Wildcats (7-1, 7-1) with her devastating combination of fastballs followed by a that’s-not-fair changeup.

The Wildcats’ own outstanding hurler, Townson University-bound Chelsea Henline, fanned six herself and nearly matched Gniadek zero for zero. But the Hawks scratched across the run in the third when Melissa Graham singled, Rachel West doubled and Jaclyn Quinn drove in pinch-runner Sarah West with a fielder’s choice.

It was all the offense Gniadek needed. No wonder Hawks’ fans have adopted the motto, ‘’Give us one run, and you’re done.’’

The Hawks aren’t nearly that cocky. Despite her overpowering arsenal, Gniadek doles out most of the credit for her success to her defense and Leighton’s skill at calling a game.

And Weick said it’s way too early to get excited about one victory over a team his Hawks will definitely play at least one more time at Great Bridge and could meet several times if both take care of business in the postseason.

Even so, the Hawks acknowledged that Thursday’s victory sure felt good.

‘’It’s always big when we play Great Bridge,’’ Gniadek said. ‘’I’d been looking forward to this game for a long time.’’