CLERMONT, Fla. – The Thomas University softball team's run into the Sun Conference Softball Championship comes to a close this afternoon as they fall to fourth-seeded Embry-Riddle 7-1 in the losers' bracket elimination game.
 
The Lady Eagles jumped out to the early 4-0 lead in the top of the first and never looked back.  Embry-Riddle hit four consecutive singles to start the action off.  Center fielder Kailah Rain reached first with a hit down the left field line and then advanced to second on an infield single by pitcher Raquelli Bianco. Still with no outs in the inning, left fielder Taylor Cowan landed a bunt single down the first baseline to load the bases.  Shortstop Talia Barraco drove in the first run of the game for the Lady Eagles hitting a liner up the middle.  Up 1-0 with the bases loaded, the Lady Eagles increased their lead to 2-0 when second baseman Victoria Reed was walked on five pitches.  With one out in the inning, third baseman Robi Zimmerman singled up the gut to drive in the third ERAU run of the game.  Three pitches later, right fielder Rae Heuer drove in the fourth and final run of the inning with a bloop single to left.
 
Embry-Riddle plated two more runs in the top of the fifth to increase their lead to 6-0.  Down by six, the Lady Night Hawks' scoreless streak came to an end in the bottom of the fifth when Thomas plated their one and only run of the contest.  Right fielder Alex VanWagner led the inning off with a single through the right side of the infield.  She would advance to second on a grounder to third by left fielder Chandler Seay.  With one out in the inning, third baseman Rachel Hoeft put runners on the corners with a single to left field.  First baseman Carmen Nadal drove in Thomas' lone run with a sacrifice fly to left, scoring VanWagner from third.
 
With the 6-1 lead heading into the seventh, the Lady Eagles drove in an insurance run en route to their 7-1 victory over the Lady Night Hawks.  Left-hander Ashley Sikes suffered the loss while ERAU's Bianco picked up the win.
 
Thomas drops to 35-13 on the year while Embry-Riddle improves to 25-20.

While their Sun Conference Championship journey comes to a close, the Lady Night Hawks now play the waiting game as the NAIA National Softball Championship participants will be announced next week.  Thomas looks to receive an at-large bid in this year's tournament.
 
For up-to-date information on this game 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.