THOMASVILLE, Ga. – The No. 14 Thomas University softball team won both games against Webber International on walkoff plays Saturday afternoon at Armory Field.
In the bottom of the seventh of the first game, pinch runner Cameryn Herrera scored on a Warriors error, giving TU the 1-0 victory. Then in the second game, Corryne Diaz hit an RBI single to center field to help the Night Hawks to the 4-3 win.
Thomas next hosts the top team in the country, Georgia Gwinnett, in a doubleheader tomorrow (Sunday) at Armory Field. The first pitch between No. 1 and No. 14 is a noon.
Game One
Lauren West struck out five in her 20th win of the season, allowing five hits and no runs in a complete 7.0 inning outing.
A.J. Weiss was 2-for-3 for the Night Hawks, who collected six hits in the game.
After six scoreless innings, West forced WIU into a fly out and a pair of ground outs in the top of the seventh, before Thomas scored the game winning run in the bottom of the frame.
Kelsey Connolly was hit by a pitch to start the inning, but was caught stealing for the first out. Weiss then singled to right field and Herrera came in to run. Pinch hitter Diaz singled to the pitcher, allowing Herrera to advance to third. Diaz then stole second and Herrera scored on an error by the Warriors second baseman.
Game Two
Thomas struck first with one run in the bottom of the second, then WIU tied it in the top of the third. Each team scored in both the sixth and eighth innings, then TU walked off on an RBI single in the bottom of the ninth.
West won her second game of the day, and 21st of the year, in a 1.2 inning relief appearance.
Katie Lopes started the game, but came out after just one inning. Margarita Sena pitched 6.1 innings of relief, allowing three runs from five hits and striking out one. West struck out two of her seven batters faced.
Connolly, Weiss and
Gaby Mora each connected on a pair of hits for the Night Hawks.
In the second inning, Weiss singled to center then
Taisa Kirindongo dropped a sac bunt to advance Weiss.
Michael Cooper tagged a single down the left field line to move Weiss to third, then
Izzy Ekstam grounded out to third, plating TU's first run.
WIU's leadoff batter in the third tied the game with a solo home run.
In the sixth, both teams scored one run from two hits and left one runner on base. WIU hit a single, had a ground out, then a double to take the 2-1 lead, then Mora hit a single, Connolly lined out to second and Weiss doubled to right center to tie the game.
Webber International added one in the top of the eighth, but TU matched. Stoltz was placed on second and advanced to third as Mora put down a sac bunt. Connolly then singled to center field to score Stoltz.
In the next inning, Kirindongo was placed on second and was bunted over by Cooper. Ekstam popped up to the first baseman, then Diaz hit an RBI single to center field for the 4-3 win.
