THOMASVILLE, Ga. – The Thomas University softball team extended their winning streak to six games this afternoon at Armory Field sweeping Middle Georgia State College in a two game set.  The Lady Night Hawks escaped game one in a 6-5 nail biter and then simply out powered the Lady Knights in game two in their 8-1 victory.
 
In game one, Thomas opened the contest as it has with all eight of its other games; scoring first.  Right fielder Alex VanWagner singled to start the game.  VanWagner would advance to third two pitches later when Chandler Seay chopped a liner to MGSC's Susanna Stokes that she mishandled putting runners on the corners.  Catcher Michael Cooper continued her star studded weekend lifting a sacrifice fly to the center field fence to score VanWagner from third for the first run of the game.
 
Middle Georgia would tie the game in the top of the second before the Lady Night Hawks jumped back into the lead in the bottom portion of the inning.  Second baseman Chelsea Carter started the inning off with a double to deep right field before VanWagner stepped in three batters later to hit an infield chopper to score Carter from third.  Carter previously advanced to third on a fielder's choice hit by Aileen Fiallo.  Later, Fiallo would steal third base before scoring on a double by Seay to give Thomas the 3-1 lead.
 
Two innings later, Thomas would score their fourth run of the game before the Lady Knights plated three runs off a three-run homer by Julie Bradley in the top of the fifth to tie the game at 4-4.  In the bottom of the fifth, the Lady Night Hawks responded to MGSC's temporary rally to regain the lead.  After being walked on six pitches, Copper would be replaced by courtesy runner Sorrel Hale.  Hale would eventually come around to score on a single to center by first baseman Carmen Nadal.
 
After a scoreless top half of the sixth, Thomas plated an insurance run when Fiallo hit a solo shot over the center field fence.  This was her second homerun of the season.  In the top of the seventh, the Lady Knights attempted a valiant comeback cutting the Lady Night Hawks' lead to 6-5.  However, reliever Ashley Chapman worked out of the jam to pick up the save.  Freshman Katie Lopes picked up her third win of the year while MGSC's Alyssa Amerson suffered the loss.  Lopes struck out six of the 21 batters she faced allowing four runs on four hits while surrendering two walks.
 
Game two was a slugfest for the Hunter Green and White. Thomas, once again, plated the first run of the game in the bottom of the first.  Middle Georgia would respond with its only run of the contest in the top of the second when Susanna Stokes crossed the plate after Morgan Barton was hit by a pitch by TU's starter Ashley Sikes with the bases loaded.  Sikes worked out of the bases loaded jam to halt any further damage by Middle Georgia.
 
The Lady Night Hawks would regain the lead, 3-1, in the bottom of the second before opening the flood gates with five runs in the bottom of the third.  During that inning, Sikes would crush her first homerun of the season over the left field fence.  The blast, which was hit on a 3-2 count rise ball, was hit nearly 245 feet.  To put Sikes powerful blast into perspective, TU's field dimensions are 200 feet from left to right.  The shot propelled the Lady Night Hawks to four innings of shutout play en route to the 8-1 victory.  Sikes was credited the win while MGSC's Sloan was given the loss.  TU's Alexa Fair picked up her second save of the season in the contest.
 
VanWagner led the Lady Night Hawks on the day going 5-for-7 in her two games of work including a perfect 3-for-3 in game two.  The West Palm Beach, Fla., native plated three runs and scored four times during the series.  Fiallo was also a major contributor in the series going 3-for 5 with a homerun, two RBIs, and four runs scored.
 
"We've had a great start to the season," stated head coach Bill Wilson. "The team really has put in hard work preparing for moments like these.  They have practiced day in and day out and have carried their persistence and work ethic on to the field each day.  I'm very proud of these women.  The puzzle pieces are starting to connect, and the picture is starting to become more visible."
 
Thomas improves to 7-1 on the year while Middle Georgia drops to 2-6.

The Lady Night Hawks return to action on Friday, Feb. 20 when they travel to Lawrenceville, Ga., to face Georgia Gwinnett in double header action.  First pitch is slated for 4 p.m. with game two following thirty minutes after the conclusion of the first contest.
 
For up-to-date information on these games and other TU Athletics, visit www.TUNightHawks.com.  Stay up-to-date with news, scores, photos, game summaries, and feature stories of your TU softball team by following them via Twitter at @NightHawksSoftb.