THOMASVILLE, Ga. – The No. 12 Thomas University softball defeated Keiser, 2-1, in eight innings, then 9-1 in five innings, Saturday afternoon at Armory Field to remain undefeated in the Sun Conference.
Kelsey Connolly collected seven RBI from a grand slam, a three-run homer and a double in game two.
Lauren West struck out 10 and allowed just one run from five hits in 8.0 innings to earn the game one win.
TU is now 24-6 overall and 8-0 in league play. Keiser falls to 11-9 overall and 1-5 in conference action.
The Night Hawks travel to Hardeeville, S.C., to play USC Beaufort in a doubleheader on March 30, then face No. 22 Warner (Fla.) April 4 and Coastal Georgia April 11 before returning to Armory Field on April 14 to play No. 16 Southeastern (Fla.).
Game One
Keiser scored one in the sixth, and Thomas matched in the bottom of the frame to tie the game. Both teams were held scoreless in the seventh, then TU's
Kelsey Connolly hit a walkoff single to third base to win the game, 2-1.
Lauren West struck out 10 and allowed just one run from five hits in 8.0 innings to earn the win.
Izzy Ekstam was 2-for-2 and
Kait Stoltz had a pair of hits at the plate for TU.
Keiser hit back-to-back singles then scored on a TU error in the sixth. Stoltz connected on a base hit to right field to lead off the bottom of the sixth, then with two outs,
A.J. Weiss singled down the right field line to drive in the tying run.
In the top of the eighth, West forced Keiser to hit a pop up, then struck out two to end the inning.
Victoria Camina was placed on second for the Night Hawks in the eighth inning. Stoltz singled to shortstop then
Gaby Mora was intentionally walked. Connolly then hit a walkoff single to third base.
Game Two
Thomas scored four runs in the third inning and five in the fourth on its way to the 9-1 five-inning victory. Keiser's run came in the fifth.
Katie Lopes started and won the game, allowing no runs from four hits in 3.0 innings. Rebecca Boesen came in for relief, giving up one run from two hits in 2.0 innings.
Kelsey Connolly collected seven RBI from a pair of home runs and a double while Ekstam also tagged a double for TU.
After two scoreless innings, Thomas plated four runs from three hits and an error in the third. With one out, Camina reached on an error and stole second. Stoltz singled to left field and Mora had an RBI single. Connolly then stepped to the plate and jacked a three-run homer.
Ekstam led off the fourth with a double, then with one out, Brianna Mendoza drew a walk. Mendoza stole second and Ekstam scored on the failed pickoff attempt at second base. Back-to-back base hits from Camina and Stoltz loaded the bases. With two outs, Connolly hit a grand slam for the Night Hawks to take the 9-0 lead.
Keiser scored after a pair of base hits and a walk loaded the bases, then an error by TU allowed an unearned run to score.
