MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The twelfth-ranked Lady Night Hawks swept their Sun Conference opener this afternoon on the road picking up two wins over the defending TSC champion St. Thomas University.  Thomas survived a 1-0 victory in a pitchers' duel in game one and then dominated the Lady Bobcats in their 8-4 win in series finale.
 
In game one, TU's starter Katie Lopes (7-2) pitched a complete game shutout against St. Thomas striking out three of the 29 batters she faced while only surrendering six hits.  The lone run of the game came in the opening inning of play when first baseman Carmen Nadal lifted an RBI-single to left field to score right fielder Alex VanWagner.  Previously, VanWagner reached on a walk and then moved into scoring position by stealing second base.
 
Thomas' bats finally came alive in the night cap plating eight runs in game two's victory.  In the top of the third, catcher Michael Cooper gave TU the 2-0 lead by crushing a two-run shot over the left field fence.  STU cut Thomas' lead in half, 2-1, in the bottom of the fourth when Amanda Furar lined a chopper to center to score Carson Catasus from third.
 
The Lady Night Hawks countered St. Thomas' offensive push in the top of the fifth to score four runs to extend their advantage to 6-1.  Left fielder Chandler Seay reached with a slap single and then advanced to second when Cooper reached on a six pitch walk.  Nadal also walked to load the bases for designated hitter Chelsea Carter.  Catasus walked Carter on four straight pitches to plate the third Lady Night Hawk run of the game.  Head coach Bill Wilson went to his bench and brought in pinch hitter Kelsey Connolly.  With a 1-1 count, Connolly ripped a liner to the left field fence whipping the bases for the 6-1 lead.
 
The Hunter Green and White knocked in two insurance runs, one in the sixth and another in the seventh, to take a 8-1 advantage into the final inning of action.  The Lady Bobcats managed three runs in their final three outs of the game, but came up short falling to No. 12 Thomas.
 
TU's starter Ashley Sikes picked up her eleventh win of the season placing her fifth overall in the NAIA.  Catacus suffered the loss.
 
Thomas improves to 24-7, 2-0 TSC, on the year while St. Thomas drops to 2-12, 0-2 TSC.

The Lady Night Hawks return to action on Sun., March 22, when they travel to West Palm Beach, Fla., to face Northwood University (Fla.) in a two-game set.  First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. with game two beginning 30 minutes after the conclusion of game one.
 
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.