COLUMBUS, Ga. – Thomas University softball defeated St. Ambrose (Iowa), 8-2, Saturday in the NFCA NAIA Leadoff Classic at the South Commons Softball Complex. Lauren West (9-1) struck out four in 4.0 innings, allowing no hits and no runs. West has six starts and six wins in the month of March. 

The Night Hawks (17-5) also lost, 5-1, to No. 12 Campbellsville (Ky.) and, 5-0, to RV Georgetown (Ky.) Saturday. TU went 2-3 in the tournament after taking down No. 5 Brenau (Ga.) and falling to No. 8 William Carey on Friday. 

TU next plays a Sun Conference doubleheader on March 14 against Webber International (Fla.) in Babson Park, Fla. First pitch of the first game is at 1 p.m. 

Game One
On Friday morning Thomas could only muster one hit in the 5-0 loss to Georgetown College, which is receiving votes in the national polls. GC scored three in the fourth and two in the sixth to earn the 5-0 win. 

Pitcher Margarita Sena allowed three runs from four hits while striking out two in her 4.1-inning start. Rebecca Boesen also struck out two, but allowed two runs from two hits in 2.2 innings. Gaby Mora connected on Thomas' only hit of the game. 

Game Two
Thomas rebounded with 11 hits and eight runs in the second game of the day, defeating St. Ambrose, 8-2. Thomas scored five runs over the first four innings before the Fighting Bees plated two in the fifth. The Night Hawks added three more in the top of the seventh to take home the win. 

Kait Stoltz, Izzy Ekstam and Cameryn Herrera each had a pair of hits and Shelby Stephens recorded two RBI. Thomas tallied five stolen bases, led by a pair from Gaby Mora. 

Leadoff batter Stoltz reached on an error in the first inning, then stole second, advanced on a passed ball and scored on an error. Gaby Mora was then hit by a pitch, stole second and scored on a base hit from Kelsey Connolly. 

In the fourth, Stoltz hit a one-out single, and scored as Connolly reached on an error. 

St. Ambrose scored two runs from a base hit, a double and three TU errors in the bottom of the fifth. 

With two outs in the seventh, Thomas added three runs on five consecutive base hits from Ekstam, Victoria Camina, Olivia Garcia, Herrera and Stephens. 

Game Three
No. 12 Campbellsville scored one run in the second, third, fifth, sixth and seventh while Thomas' lone score came in the sixth inning. West started the game, pitching just one inning, then Boesen, who was tagged with the loss, came in for 2.0 innings of relief, allowing two runs from three hits. Sena pitched 3.0 innings, striking out two but allowing two runs from five hits. 

Herrera was 3-for-3 with one stolen base and a run scored while Connolly was 2-for-3 with an RBI. 

With one out in the bottom of the sixth, Herrera singled and stole second, then scored on a base hit from Connolly.