BABSON PARK, Fla. – No. 12 Thomas University softball opened Sun Conference play with a pair of victories over Webber International Wednesday afternoon at Nancy Nichols Field.

The Night Hawks shut out the Warriors, 6-0, in game one, then held on for the 11-8 victory in the second game of the doubleheader. 

Thomas returns to Armory Field this weekend to face Coastal Georgia in a conference doubleheader. Check out the Night Hawks on March 17 at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. in Thomasville, Fla.


Game One
Thomas shut out Webber International by scoring two in the fourth, one in the fifth and three in the sixth. TU outhit WIU, 11-3, and the Warriors had three errors. 

Gaby Mora was 2-for-4 with a 2-run homer, her third HR of the season, and Michael Cooper was also 2-for-4. Kelsey Connolly tagged a double for Thomas, her fifth of the year. Pitcher Lauren West picked up her 10th win of the season, and seventh in the month of March, allowing just three hits while striking out four in 7.0 innings. 

With two outs in the fourth, Taisa Kirindongo singled then stole second and scored on a base hit from Cameryn Herrera. As Victoria Camina reached on an error by the left fielder, Herrera raced across the plate. 

Kait Stoltz led off the top of the fifth with a base hit, then swiped second base. She scored on Connolly's one-out double. 

In the sixth, Kinindongo again reached on a base hit and took second. With two outs, Stoltz reached on an error, which plated Kirindongo. Mora then stepped to the plate and rocketed a two-run bomb. 

Game Two
Thomas struck first, scoring one in the first, then WIU answered with a pair in the second inning. Thomas tallied three in the third and one in the fourth before the Warriors answered with two more in the bottom of the frame. After a scoreless fifth, Thomas added one in the sixth and WIU plated two more in the sixth to tie the game at six. Thomas exploded for five runs in the ninth and WIU scored two in the bottom of the inning, but it wasn't enough. 

Margarita Sena earned her fourth win of the season, striking out three while allowing four runs from five hits in 3.1 innings pitched. Rebecca Boesen came in for 2.0 innings, allowing two runs from two hits and striking out one. West came in to close the game, striking out three and allowing two runs on four hits in 3.2 innings of work. 

Stoltz, Kirindongo and A.J. Weiss each connected on a pair of hits for the Night Hawks. Cooper and Kirindongo tallied home runs and Connolly recorded a double. 

Camina drew a walk to lead off the game, stole second, advanced to third on a fly to right by Stoltz and scored on a sac bunt by Mora. 

Camina scored again in the third after drawing another walk, advancing on a base hit by Stoltz and scoring on a two-RBI single from Mora. Connolly then doubled to plate Mora. 

Herrera drew a leadoff walk in the fourth, then Olivia Garcia came in to pinch run. Garcia proceeded to steal second then score on an error by the Warriors as Camina reached base on the play. 

Kirindongo ripped her home run in the top of the sixth, then WIU scored two runs from four hits in the bottom of the frame to tie the game. West left three on base by striking out the final batter of the inning. 

After two scoreless extra innings, TU scored five runs from two hits and one Warrior error. Herrera was placed on second to start the inning, then scored as Stoltz reached on an error. Mora walked, then with two outs, A.J. Weiss drove in Stoltz before Cooper drilled a 3-run homer. 

Webber International hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth, but West forced the final batter to ground out to end the game.