ALBANY, Ga. – Night Hawks Gaby Mora and Addyson Mauldin each connected on home runs in Thomas University's softball season lidlifter against NCAA Division II Albany State Friday afternoon. 

Thomas, which is receiving votes in the NAIA Coaches' Top 25 preseason poll, lost the first game, 6-5, but won the second, 8-1. 

Thomas' home opener is tomorrow (Saturday) against Truett-McConnell University. The double header begins at 1 p.m. at Armory Field in Thomasville, Ga. 

Game One
After falling behind 3-0 in the first, Thomas scored two in the fifth and three in the seventh, but Albany State plated one in the sixth and one in the final frame to take the 6-5 win. 

Pitcher Shealah Brown allowed three earned runs from 10 hits while striking out three in 6.2 innings. Thomas' defense recorded four errors in the game. 

Centerfielder Gaby Mora and designated hitter Addyson Mauldin each tagged home runs while secondbaseman Hannah Wilde connected on a double for the Night Hawks. 

Down 3-0 going into the fifth inning, Thomas scored a pair of runs from three hits, but left three runners on base. Catcher Izzy Ekstam reached on an error to lead off the frame, then with one out, Mora homered. 

In the top of the seventh, trailing by two runs, the Night Hawks plated three more to take the 5-4 lead. Firstbaseman Michaela Farr connected on an infield hit, then Wilde drew a walk. With one out, Mauldin cracked a three-run homer to put TU ahead. 

Albany State, though, scored two runs from one hit and an error in the bottom of the seventh to earn the win. 


Game Two
Thomas connected on 15 hits to score eight runs, defeating Albany State 8-1 in the second game. The Night Hawks put up one run in four of the first five innings, then plated four in the sixth before ASU scored one in the bottom of the sixth. 

Rebecca Boesen pitched a complete game, allowing four hits and striking out three. 

Mauldin tagged her second home run of the day, a three-run shot in the sixth. She collected five RBI from three hits, and scored once in the game. Wilde and Corryne Diaz each connected on three hits and picked up an RBI for the Night Hawks. Wilde scored three times and Diaz notched a double.