THOMASVILLE, Fla. – No. 12 Thomas University softball defeated Ave Maria University, 8-0 and 5-3, Thursday afternoon to sweep the midweek doubleheader at Armory Field.
Thomas improves to 22-6 overall and 6-0 in the Sun Conference while Ave Maria falls to 18-8, 3-3.
The Night Hawks are back on the field Saturday to face Keiser (Fla.) at noon and 2 p.m. The Seahawks are 12-7 overall and 2-3 in the league this season.
Game One
TU scored three in the second inning and two in the third to take an early lead, then tacked on two in the fifth and one in the sixth to take home its 10th shutout of the season.
Thomas collected 10 hits from 10 different players, including a home run from
Michael Cooper and a double by
Kelsey Connolly. Pitcher
Lauren West earned the victory, allowing just one hit while striking out four in 5.0 innings.
In the second inning,
Izzy Ekstam singled to third base then scored Thomas' first run after
Taisa Kirindongo reached on a fielder's choice and Cameryn Herrera hit an RBI single to first base.
Victoria Camina then hit a single to center field, plating two more Night Hawks.
In the third,
Gaby Mora reached on an error by the shortstop then stole second in time for Connolly's RBI double. Connolly then scored as Ekstam reached on an error by the shortstop.
In the fifth, Cooper sent a two-run shot over the fence to give TU the 7-0 lead.
Kirindongo scored TU's final run after connecting on a base hit to the shortstop, advancing to second on a wild pitch, moving to third on a base hit from Olivia Garcia and crossing the plate after a single to left field by Shelby Stephens.
Game Two
Ave Maria plated a pair of runs in the top of the first, but Thomas scored one in the first, two in the fourth and one in the fifth to take the 4-2 edge. AMU added one more in the sixth, and TU matched with one run of its own to earn the 5-3 victory.
Margarita Sena picked up her fourth win of the season, allowing three runs from five hits while striking out three in 5.2 innings. Mora was 2-for-3 and Kirindongo connected on a triple for the Night Hawks.
Ave Maria scored two runs from two hits to start the game, then TU plated one in the bottom of the frame. Camina led off with a single to center field, but was thrown out as
Kait Stoltz reached on a fielder's choice. Stoltz stole second then scored after a single by Mora and a sac fly by Connolly.
With two outs in the fourth, Kirindongo connected on a triple, plating a pair of Night Hawks.
In the fifth, Stoltz reached on an error, then advanced to third on a sac bunt by Mora. After Connolly and
A.J. Weiss were intentionally walked to load the bases, Stoltz scored on a passed ball.
Thomas' final run came in the sixth as Kirindongo was hit by a pitch to reach base and scored on a single to center field by Stoltz.
