HARDEEVILLE, S.C. – No. 10 Thomas University softball split a Sun Conference doubleheader with USC Beaufort Tuesday afternoon, winning the first game, 5-1, but dropping the second, 3-2. 

The games were originally scheduled for last weekend, but were postponed due to weather.

The loss was TU's first in league play. The first-place Night Hawks are now 25-7 overall and 9-1 in the conference. USC Beaufort, which is receiving votes in the NAIA poll, is in second in TSC, with its 27-12 and 7-5 records. 

Thomas continues its road swing with a doubleheader at No. 22 Warner (Fla.) on April 4, then will play at Coastal Georgia on April 11. 

Game One
Thomas won the first game 5-1, scoring all five runs in the top of the first inning. 

Lauren West won her 16th game of the season, striking out seven while allowing just one run from six hits in 7.0 innings. 

Shelby Stephens was 2-for-3 at the plate and A.J. Weiss tagged her third home run of the season for TU. 

Victoria Camina and Kait Stoltz drew back-to-back walks to start the game then Gaby Mora punched an RBI single to right field to score TU's first run. Stoltz then scored on an overthrow. A base hit to left by Connolly set the table for a three-run homer from Weiss. 

USCB scored one run from three hits in the bottom of the sixth. 

Game Two
USCB scored one in the second inning, then Thomas took a 2-1 lead in the top of the fifth, but the Sand Sharks answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame to take the 3-2 victory. 

Starting pitcher Margarita Sena allowed one run from three hits in 4.0 innings, then West was tagged with her second loss of the season, allowing two runs from three hits in 2.0 innings. 

Connolly had a double for the Night Hawks while Camina and Stoltz each picked up an RBI. 

After USCB took the 1-0 lead from a pair of base hits in the bottom of the second, TU plated two runs from three hits in the top of the fifth. Taisa Kirindongo and Izzy Ekstam each put down bunts to start the inning, but Ekstam was thrown out at second as Corryne Diaz reached on a pinch hit fielder's choice. Camina singled to left center to plate Kirindongo, then Diaz scored as Stoltz reached on a fielder's choice. 

Three base hits and a drawn walk plated two runs for the Sand Sharks in the bottom of the fifth.