THOMASVILLE, Ga. – In a rare Monday early afternoon doubleheader, the Thomas University softball team went toe-to-toe with the University of South Carolina-Beaufort, taking the first game 2-1 before falling short 4-3 in the second game at Armory Field.
 
Game One Recap (TU 2, USCB 1)
The contest was a defensive battle by both teams, as the Sand Sharks (10-10, 2-4 TSC) outhit the Lady Night Hawks (12-8, 3-3 TSC) 7-4.  Senior Rebecca Boesen (7-2) pitched six and a third innings, allowing one earned run in seven hits with nine strikeouts.  Junior Larran Carter (3-2) was credited for the save after preventing runners from second and third to score.
 
The first three innings were a virtual deadlock, with only one hit made between both teams.
 
USC-Beaufort began the top of the fourth with a Jaci Coleman walk.  A wild pitch in the following at-bat allowed Coleman to advance to second.  After Boesen threw two strikeouts, USCB broke the game open with a Devon Weller RBI double that gave the Sand Sharks a 1-0 lead.  
 
The Lady Night Hawks quickly responded, as Freshman Makana Pember delivered a leadoff single to set up Sophomore Addyson Mauldin's double that led to Pember's run to tie the game 1-1.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, the Lady Night Hawks made a few pinch changes in an attempt to gain an edge. The Hunter Green & White's efforts paid off, as two stolen bases from Junior pinch runner Chauntivia Cliatt set up the go-ahead score off a wild pitch from USCB Pitcher Ally Muraskin (5-4) to give TU a 2-1 lead.
 
After both teams exchanged a hit in the sixth inning, USCB threatened to tie the contest in the top of the seventh.  With one out, the Sand Sharks doubled to left field to put runners on second and third. 
 
With the game on the line, Thomas called on Carter to close the deal.  The hometown Junior did not disappoint, as a pop-up in foul territory and a strikeout preserved Thomas' third The Sun Conference win of the season.
 
Game Two Recap (USCB 4, TU 3)
The second contest provided a twist of fate for the Lady Night Hawks, as the Sand Sharks scored four unanswered runs, including the game-winning run as a direct result from a wild pitch. 
 
Junior Pitcher Shaela Brown (1-2) gave up four earned runs in six hits while notching three strikeouts in three and two-third innings.  Carter came in for relief, allowing just one hit the rest of the way through.
 
Just like Game One, the first two innings in Game Two resulted in no runs for either side.  In the third inning, however, it would be TU that would strike first thanks to an RBI from Freshman Averie Sheppard to put Thomas up 1-0.  Freshman Kennedy Hardy followed up Sheppard in the hitting lineup, pinch hitting for Pember, as the Mansfield, Texas native brought home another run to extend the lead 2-0.  Senior Holly Campbell would hit a team third consecutive RBI to push the Lady Night Hawk lead to three runs.
 
It appeared the fourth inning was going well for Thomas, grabbing two outs from the first four batters.  But momentum quickly shifted towards the Sand Sharks, as a 2RBI double from Jodi Hatcher quickly cut the deficit to 3-2.  USCB would tie the score (3-3) on the next at-bat with another double.
 
With the score tied, Carter once again returned to the mound, but back-to-back wild pitches would allow the Sand Sharks to score the go-ahead run.
 
The Hunter Green & White outfield would keep USCB at bay in the top of the final three innings, but in a twist of fate, the Sand Sharks brought back Muraskin from Game One to close out the contest.  After two quick outs, a follow-up walk put the game-tying run at first for TU, but a flyout to left field on the next at-bat clinched a 4-3 win for USC-Beaufort.
 
TU by the Numbers:
3:       The Sun Conference wins
4:        Consecutive games featuring a 0.00 ERA for Larran Carter
5:        Total Runs scored on the day
9:        Total Hits on the day
10:      Total Scoreless Innings between both games
12:      2021 Season wins
 
The Lady Night Hawks remain at home to host another The Sun Conference opponent in Ave Maria for more doubleheader action.  First pitch at Armory Field is set for 2 p.m.
 
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.