THOMASVILLE, Ga. – The Thomas University softball team is set to begin The Sun Conference play, as the Lady Night Hawks head down to Babson Park, Fla. Wednesday for doubleheader action against Webber International University.
 
TU (9-5) has had a week to rest and rejuvenate after sweeping Oakland City last time out with 16-1 and 10-0 victories.  The Lady Night Hawks will look to build off a spectacular performance from the plate, tallying a combined eight stolen bases, 25 RBIs and 34 hits from the team's doubleheader against the Mighty Oaks. 
 
Sophomore Addyson Mauldin and Freshman Kennedy Hardy had breakout games in Wednesday's outing, both recording five total RBIs apiece.  Mauldin notched two doubles, as Hardy recorded her first NAIA home run.
 
The pitching staff was equally spectacular, turning both contests into five-inning games allowing under 10 hits total between the two games.  Currently, TU boasts three pitchers with The Sun Conference's top 17 ERA averages in the 2021, with Junior Rebecca Boesen (6-1) claiming the conference's second-best ERA (1.24).  As a result, Thomas heads into the week with TSC's best ERA (2.06) and runs allowed averages (2.29), along with the most strikeouts a game (6.07).
 
Thanks to rescheduled games, it was only fitting that the Lady Night Hawks would start its conference slate against the only team it played in TSC action last season.  The Warriors (13-13, 0-2 TSC) began the season hot, winning eight of its first ten games, but has struggled as of late, falling in six of the last eight contests.   
 
On the hitting side, WIU is led by Mary-Margaret Maggard, who bats .388 on the season with 18 RBIs and four home runs, including seven stolen bases.  Kelsea Friend owns nearly a fifth of the team's 49 stolen bases, going 9-for-11 on the season.
 
Pitchers Kayla Swinson (6-2) and Emma Maitland (4-4) each have pitched 53 innings and have posted similar stat lines in the 2021 season.  Both pitchers hold the same opposing batting average (.246) and total earned runs (20).  One difference between Webber's primary pitchers is the strikeouts count; Maitland is 10th in the conference in strikeouts a game (4.89) while Swinson averages 3.54. 
 
Since 2017, Thomas has won eight of the previous 11 games against Webber.
 
First pitch at Nancy Nichols Field is slated for 2 p.m.  Fans can follow the live action by accessing the links below:
 
Live Stats                                             Live Video
 
For up-to-date information on this game and other TU Athletics, visit www.TUNightHawks.com.  Stay up-to-date with news, scores, photos, game summaries, and feature stories of your TU softball team by following them via Twitter at @NightHawksSoftb.