BABSON PARK, Fla. – After being swept the day before by the Sun Conference's top team, the Lady Night Hawks responded to sweep Webber International in their afternoon twin bill.  Thomas won the first game in a 3-2 come-from-behind victory and then shutout the Lady Warriors in game two in the 3-0 win.
 
All of game one's action came in the sixth inning.  Webber International jumped out to the 2-0 lead in the top of the inning.  Shortstop Jennifer Hamil led off the inning with a single to left, but was forced out on a fielder's choice hit by catcher Lydia Hough.  With one out in the inning and a runner on first, WIU's designated player, Erika Bellinger, ripped a two-run shot over the left field fence off TU's starter Ashley Sikes. 
 
With only six potential outs left in the game, the Lady Night Hawks regrouped in between innings in a team huddle and came out fired up and ready for action.  First baseman Carmen Nadal reached on a walk to lead off the bottom frame of the sixth.  Sikes then put runners on first and second with a single up the middle.  TU's head coach Bill Wilson went to his bench and brought in Chelsea Carter as a pinch hitter.  With one out, the right-hander smashed a three-run homer over the left-center field fence to give the Lady Night Hawks the 3-2 advantage.  Sikes came on in the seventh to shut down the Lady Warriors in order leading to the 3-2 victory in Thomas' favor.  Sikes picked up her 14th win of the season while WIU's Kaitlyn Romaine suffered the loss.
 
In the series finale, Thomas' bats and a shutout pitching performance by Katie Lopes propelled the Lady Night Hawks in their 3-0 victory.  Lopes pitched a complete game allowing just six hits and one walk while striking out six of the 28 batters faced.
 
Thomas jumped on the board in the bottom of the second capitalizing on three hits and a defensive error by WIU's Hamil.  Nadal led the inning off with a double to the left-center gap.  Sorrel Hale, who replaced Nadal as a pinch runner, would advance to third when Carter's grounder was misplayed by Hamil.  Hale would come around to score when center fielder Aileen Fiallo singled to shallow center to plate the first Night Hawk run of the game.  Carter would later score when right fielder Alex VanWagner out ran an infield chopper for a single.  The hit gave TU the 2-0 lead.
 
Three innings later, catcher Michael Cooper gave the Lady Night Hawks an insurance run and the 3-0 lead sending a solo homerun over the left field fence.  Lopes set down Webber's final six batters in order to cap off Thomas' victory and series sweep.
 
"We played two tough series this weekend," stated Wilson.  "While we stumbled against Southeastern, our turnaround today put us back in the right direction and focus heading into the final games of the regular season."
 
Thomas improves to 30-11, 8-4 TSC, on the year while Webber International drops to 21-20, 4-10 TSC.

The Lady Night Hawks return to action on Friday, April 24, when they host Sun Conference foe Warner University (Fla.) in a twin bill.  This matchup is the opening series of Senior Weekend as the Lady Night Hawks honor their nine seniors on Senior Day, Saturday, April 25, against Ave Maria.  Friday's first pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. with game two beginning 30 minutes after the conclusion of game one. 
 
This year's senior class includes Kaley Clark, Alexa Fair, Aileen Fiallo, Sorrel Hale, Ashley Knight, Carmen Nadal, Chandler Seay, Kallie Shirling, and Lindsey Young.  Thomas University athletics and the softball team invite all to come out and celebrate each of these student-athletes and their accomplishments.
 
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.