THOMASVILLE, Ga. – The Thomas University softball team once again saw a The Sun Conference doubleheader go down to the wire in both games, as the Lady Night Hawks split with Ave Maria, falling 3-2 in Game One before securing a comeback 5-4 win in extra innings in Game Two Thursday evening at Armory Field.
 
Game One Recap (AMU 3, TU 2)
The Lady Night Hawks (13-9, 4-4 TSC) could not overcome a 3-0 deficit, despite a few opportunities for a late comeback push.  The contest saw limited hits from both sides, as TU could only manage five against an alert Ave Maria outfield.  Senior Rebecca Boesen (7-3) pitched all seven innings, allowing two earned runs in six hits and throwing seven strikeouts.
 
In the bottom of the first, Freshman Lakin Minish got on base via walk and made it to third base before AMU (15-7, 3-3 TSC) got its third out from an Addyson Mauldin grounder.
 
The Gyrenes capitalized in the top of the second inning, beginning with a leadoff double by Ashley Nelson.  The next at-bat would prove to be costly for the Hunter Green & White, as a botched putout off a sacrifice bunt by Miriam Padgett allowed Nelson to reach home, giving Ave Maria the 1-0 lead.
 
Two innings later, AMU would extend its lead 2-0, as three straight base hits led to a Marisa Michi walk.  A fielder's choice putout at home plate and a strikeout kept the Gyrenes' scoring at bay, but a hit-by-pitch on the next at-bat gave Ave Maria a 3-0 lead.
TU got to work quickly in the bottom of the third, as a walk and stolen base by Freshman Averie Sheppard set up Minish's RBI single to centerfield to give the Lady Night Hawks its first run of the contest (3-1).
With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Mauldin sparked a scoring chance with a double to left field.  Junior Chauntivia Cliatt came in to pinch run for the Jacksonville, Fla. native.  The move paid off for TU as Junior Corryne Diaz delivered a RBI single to drive home Cliatt, but Diaz took a chance in trying to reach second on the run, and the Gyrenes caught the Gardnerville, NV product to end the inning with a one-run difference (3-2).
The Hunter Green & White had a shot to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh, as Freshman Rebecca Dorsett hit a single, but a grounder-turned double play on the next at-bat ended all hopes for a TU comeback, securing a 3-2 win for Ave Maria.
 

 
Game Two Recap (TU 5, AMU 4 – 8 inn.)
Once again, the Gyrenes-Night Hawks matchup would come down to the wire, this time taking the game into extra innings.  Junior Shaela Brown began the game at the pitcher's circle, but it was Junior Larran Carter (4-2) that would pick up the win, allowing no earned runs for the fifth, consecutive appearance with two hits and strikeouts.
 
TU came out of the gate hot, jumping out an early 3-0 lead in the first that was highlighted by three hits, including a RBI double from Diaz.
 
The Lady Night extended their lead (4-0) an inning later, as a single from Dorsett and a sacrifice bunt from Sophomore Tianna Villagomez paved the way for a RBI double by Junior Taylee Bragger.
 
The Gyrenes would make sure the game did not get out of hand in the top of the third, as a Paxton Hoop RBI double to center field gave AMU its first run on the board.  After Nelson was hit by a pitch and advanced to second, the Gyrenes appeared to have a scoring threat on the rise, with TSC's batting average leader up to the plate in Miriam Padgett.  It was not meant to be, however, as a soft, pop-up bunt by Padgett into foul territory was caught bare-handed by a diving Diaz to leave two runners stranded on base.
 
After recording one out in the top of the fourth, the Lady Night Hawks began to struggle, resulting in a RBI single for AMU that cut TU's lead to two runs (4-2).  Brown was then pulled for Carter, who saw her first at-bat produce a stolen base for Ave Maria, followed by an erred throw from Diaz, which allowed the Gyrenes to bring home another run to bring the score line to one run, with a runner advancing to third.  On the same at-bat, the bunt by Hoops set up a fielder's choice, in which Carter tried to throw home to Villagomez in time, but Ave Maria beat the throw to tie the game 4-4.
 
In the eighth inning, TU would get a second chance for a putout at home that would ultimately change the game's momentum.  After a Kalie Romig sacrifice bunt advanced AMU's runner to third, Hoops bunted again, and this time was fielded by Mauldin, who flicked the ball to Villagomez, tagging Sebastiani at home for the out.
 
Senior Holly Campbell would cash in on the big putout by Villagomez, as the Lake Park, Ga. native doubled for the game-winning RBI to bring Freshman Hailie Stewart home for the 5-4 win.  Campbell was the first and only at-bat for the Lady Night Hawks in the bottom of the eighth.
 
TU by the Numbers:
2:        Game-Winnings RBIs by Holly Campbell
5:        Wins by one run on the season
7:        Total Runs Scored on the day
11:      Combined Hits allowed on the day
14:      Total Hits on the day
15:      Wins Overall against the Gyrenes
 
Thomas is back on the clay Saturday, hosting Keiser for The Sun Conference action.  First pitch is set for noon.
 
For up-to-date information on this doubleheader 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.