WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Thomas University's twelfth-ranked softball team picked up its second sweep over Sun Conference opponents in the past two days with their two victories over Northwood University (Fla.) this afternoon on the road.  The Lady Night Hawks blanked the Seahawks in game one winning 3-0 and escaped with the 4-3 victory in the night cap.
 
Thomas had an active second inning during game one plating all three of its runs.  Designated hitter Kelsey Connolly led the inning off with a double to the left-center gap.  Sorrel Hale, who came on as a pinch runner, would score four pitches later when shortstop Lindsey Young smashed a triple down the left field line to give TU the 1-0 lead.  In the next at bat, second baseman Kayla Johnson kept the action going driving in the second run of the game with a double to left-center field. This shot ended the day for NU's starter Nicole Granitto.  Meagan Flores came on in relief for Northwood.  With no outs in the inning, center fielder Aileen Fiallo moved Johnson to third with a sacrifice bunt before right fielder Alex VanWagner drove in the third and final run of the game with a chopper to second.  TU's Katie Lopes (7-2) picked up the win while Granitto suffered the loss.
 
In game two, Thomas' starting pitcher Ashley Sikes took a no-hitter into the fifth inning before surrendering her first hit and run of the game.  The Lady Night Hawks jumped out to the 4-0 lead in the top of the third.  Johnson led the inning off with a single through the middle and then advanced into scoring position with a single to short by Fiallo.  During a double steal, Johnson came in to score when Northwood's catcher overthrew the coverage, also allowing Fiallo to advance to third.  On a 2-2 count, VanWagner sliced a triple down the left field line to score Fiallo, giving the Lady Night Hawks the 2-0 advantage.  With one out in the inning, catcher Michael Cooper walked to put runners on the corners.  Third baseman Rachel Hoeft increased Thomas' lead to 3-0 with an RBI-single to shallow left.  TU plated its final run of the inning and game when Northwood's reliever Anne Diercks walked Young with the bases loaded.
 
Northwood cut TU's lead to 4-1 in the bottom of the fifth halting Sikes' no-hitter bid.  With one out in the inning, designated hitter Rachel Dirks slapped a liner up the middle and later scored on an RBI-single by Ryleigh Williams.  Sikes once again worked through a scoreless sixth before she faced trouble by the upset minded Seahawks in the bottom of the seventh.  In their final three outs, Northwood would mount a rally to score two runs in the inning off Sikes before she was replaced by game one's winning pitcher, Lopes.  The right-hander hander picked up the save setting down the final two batters she faced to lead Thomas to the 4-3 victory. Sikes picked up her 12th win of the year while Diercks suffered the loss.  Sikes is now tied third in the NAIA in wins.
 
Thomas improves to 26-7, 4-0 TSC, on the year while Northwood drops to 14-14-1, 0-4 TSC.

The Lady Night Hawks return to action on Sat., March 28, when they host Sun Conference rival Embry-Riddle in a two-game set.  First pitch is scheduled for 11:00 a.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.