GULF SHORES, Ala. – Streaks have been a reoccurring theme this season with Thomas University's softball team.  The Lady Night Hawks (18-4), who were on a four game run, increased their streak to six last night when they swept their opening games of the Gulf Coast Invitational in Gulf Shores, Ala.  In their first game, Thomas defeated (RV) Georgia Gwinnett in a 5-3 come-from-behind victory.  Thirty minutes later, the Hunter Green and White ripped through the Bulldogs of Benedictine University (Ill.) in a six-inning 11-3 victory.
 
Game one versus Georgia Gwinnett was a test of will and determination for the Thomas faithful.  The Lady Night Hawks sent starter Ashley Sikes (8-2) to the mound.  In the top of the first, Thomas scored the first run of the game.  So far this season, the Lady Night Hawks have outscored their opponents 31-13 in the first inning.  Alex VanWagner led the game off with a walk and then stole second base.  Currently, the Lady Night Hawks have the second most stolen bases in the NAIA.  Left-fielder Chandler Seay slapped an infield single to reach.  Then, Michael Cooper hit into a fielder's choice that forced VanWagner out at third, putting runners on first and second. On the next pitch of the inning, third baseman Rachel Hoeft squeaked a single up the middle to plate the first run of the game and 1-0 lead.
 
The Lady Night Hawks would play from behind most of the game until the top of the fifth.  Georgia Gwinnett took the lead in the bottom of the first scoring three runs on three hits and a walk.  Thomas committed one costly error that continued the inning allowing GGW's Brittany Taylor to double scoring the third run of the inning.
 
Thomas bounced back in the third to cut GGW's lead to 3-2.  Two innings later, the Lady Night Hawks would take the 5-3 advantage and head towards the victory.  VanWagner reached on an error by GGW's Alycia Fields and then stole second.  Cooper reached on a six-pitch walk before Sorrel Hale replaced her as a courtesy runner in the inning.  With one out in the inning, Hoeft once again delivered.  The third baseman crushed a liner down the right field line that hit the corner of the outfield fence for a triple.  This shot scored the tying and go-ahead run for the Lady Night Hawks giving them the 4-3 advantage.  That hit ended GGW's starter Katie Lange's day.  The Grizzlies brought in Kayla Byrom on in relief.  Thomas did not hesitate to welcome her to the game.  First baseman Carmen Nadal drove a single to center field to plate the fifth and final run of the game in Thomas' 5-3 victory.
 
Sikes picked up her eighth win of the season placing her tied sixth in the NAIA for the most wins.  Freshman Katie Lopes picked up the save for her three innings of work while GGW's Lange suffered the loss.
 
Game two could be summed up in one word:  slugfest. While TU's starter Ashley Chapman surrendered a run in the first to give the Benedictine Bulldogs the 1-0 lead, Thomas' offensive went to work in the bottom frame to take the 5-1 lead.  Benedictine had three costly errors in the first inning that contributed to TU's success.  VanWagner led the game off with a single. She, once again, stole second base and then scored on an erred throw to second by BU's catcher in her attempt to gun down VanWagner.  Seay continued the rally hitting a single up the middle.  Seay moved to third on a single by Nadal and later scored on a ground ball error hit to the Bulldogs' shortstop.  Thomas, with the 2-1 lead, showed no mercy.  Designated player Chelsea Carter kept the rally going lining a single to left scoring Nadal for the third run of the game.  Second baseman Kayla Johnson would drive in the fourth and fifth runs of the inning on a single to right to bring TU's lead to 5-1.
 
The Hunter Green and White extended their lead to 6-1 in the bottom of the second before Benedictine added two runs to the board to cut TU's lead to 6-3.  However, the Lady Night Hawks once again responded with four runs in the bottom of the fourth to increase their lead to 10-3.  Hoeft reached on a six pitch walk before Kallie Shirling entered the game as a pinch runner.  Shirling would come around to score on a single by Nadal.  Kaley Clark put runners on the corners when she reached on a passed ball strikeout.  With two runners on, Carter stepped in and hit her third homerun of the 2015 season over the center field fence clearing the bases for the 10-3 lead.
 
The Lady Night Hawks would go on to score an insurance run (11-3) in the sixth inning to end the game on a run rule.
 
Thomas improves to 18-4 on the year while (RV) Georgia Gwinnet drops to 9-6 and Benedictine (Ill.) falls to 0-7.
 
The Lady Night Hawks return to action on Sat., March 7, when they continue their run into the Gulf Coast Invitational.  Thomas faces Freed-Hardeman at 4:00 p.m. and No. 4 Lindsey Wilson at 6:00 p.m.  LWC leads the head-to-head season series 2-0 over Thomas.
 
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.