COLUMBUS, Ga. – On a frigid night after upsetting No. 3 Reinhardt University in its previous game, the Thomas University softball team fell 7-6 to No. 16 Central Methodist in their opening game of the Gold Bracket section of the NFCA NAIA Leadoff Classic tournament.
 
Central Methodist started the action with a 2-0 lead in the opening inning of the game.  With the bases loaded, Jessica Wilmes scored on a sacrifice fly hit by Nicole Beck.  Outfielder Aileen Fiallo made a leaping catch that took her over the fence allowing Lindie Adair to also score.
 
The Lady Night Hawks would even the score at 2-2 in the bottom portion of the first.  Carmen Nadal would pick up an RBI when she hit a grounder to second, scoring Chandler Seay from third. Two batters later, Chelsea Carter hit a grounder to short that was misplayed by Adair to allow Michael Cooper to cross the plate.
 
In the top of the fourth, the Lady Eagles would regain the lead on a solo homerun by Wilmes over the left-center field fence.  CMU would continue its offensive fury to plate four more runs, one in the fourth and fifth and two in the sixth, to take the 7-2 lead over the top-seeded Lady Night Hawks.  In the sixth inning, CMU would hit back-to-back homeruns by Lauren Geringer and Nicole Beck.  TU's Alexa Fair came on in relief for Ashley Chapman, ending the day for the right hander.  Previously, Chapman entered the ballgame in the second inning for starter Ashley Sikes.
 
Thomas responded in the bottom of the sixth to cut CMU's lead to 7-3.  Lindsey Young reached on a one-out single up the middle and would later score on a grounder by Seay.
 
Down to their last three outs, the Lady Night Hawks began a rally in the bottom of the seventh.  Rachel Hoeft led off the inning with a single to left and then moved up a base when Nadal reached on a five-pitch walk.  Kallie Shirling would reach on a fielder's choice, forcing Nadal out at second, to put runners on the corners.  On the next pitch thrown to Thomas, designated player Kelsey Connolly hurled a three-run shot over the center field fence to cut CMU's lead to 7-6.  The rally continued when Young placed a two-out liner to the left-center field fence for a double.  However, the comeback trail ended when Thomas' last batter struck out to end the game.
 
Jocie Glaze picked up the win while TU's Sikes was credited with the loss.  CMU's Ashley Litton received the save.
 
Thomas drops to 12-4 on the season while No. 16 Central Methodist improves to 3-1 on the year.
 
The Lady Night Hawks return to action on Sunday, March 1 when they continue in the Losers' Bracket of the Gold Tournament.  They will face fourth-seeded and Sun Conference rival USC-Beaufort.  First pitch is set for 9:00 a.m.
 
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.