THOMASVILLE, Ga. – The Thomas University softball team will travel to Gulf Shores, Ala. this weekend for the annual Gulf Shores Invitational (GSI) to play doubleheaders on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
 
The Lady Night Hawks (4-2) hoped to have a few doubleheaders this past week to prepare for the team's jam-packed weekend schedule, but Mother Nature had other ideas.
 
While TU may bat .248 as a team, the Hunter Green & White average six hits a game, including just over three RBIs.  Thomas also continues to be an effective base-running team, averaging two stolen bases a contest. 
 
The pitching staff has wreaked havoc on opposing batters, heading into the weekend with NAIA's 18th-best Earned Run Average (1.47) and 19th-best Opposing Batting Average (.203).  Junior Rebecca Boesen (3-0) recently received The Sun Conference honors for throwing eight strikeouts while allowing no runs in just four hits in a full seven innings against #9 Truett-McConnell.  As another primary pitcher, Junior Larran Carter (1-1) has been solid in the circle this season with a 1.85 ERA while limiting opponents to eight hits and 13 strikeouts.
 
Friday's Games Previews
 
Thomas vs. Blue Mountain College (@3:30 PM EST)
Up first for Thomas is Blue Mountain College (2-0) from the Southern States Athletic Conference.  The Toppers only saw its season begin a week ago, sweeping RV Lyon College.  At the plate, Anna Purvis hit .500 in the doubleheader series, while in the circle, Montanna Smith (1-0) allowed two earned runs with six hits and seven strikeouts.
 
Emaree Stone (1-0) is a utility player for the Lady Night Hawks to watch.  As a pitcher, Stone gave up only five hits in five innings, but as a hitter, the Louisville, Miss. native is BMC's RBI leader (3) that bats .400.   
 
Thomas vs. LSU-Alexandria (@6PM EST)
LSU-Alexandria (3-3) was working on a sweep of Jarvis Christian before weather interrupted the third and final game of the series.  The Generals boast some heavy hitters, as four players average .400 or better from the plate.  Lauryn McMahon at-bat will give Thomas' pitching staff a challenge, as the Junior boasts a .500 batting average with eight RBIs.
 
The pitching staff performance of LSUA may provide an advantage for the Night Hawks.  The Generals overall have a 5.92 ERA, and between starting Pitchers Ryleigh Rutherford (1-2) and Eryn Sanchez (2-1), opponents' batting average is at .313.
 
Saturday's Game Previews
 
Thomas vs. Columbia College (@11 AM EST
To put it mildly, Columbia College (3-2) enters this weekend tournament-ready, as the Cougars began its season in NCAA Division II Texas A&M-Kingsville that included wins over the nationally-ranked Javelinas as well as its fellow Lone Star Conference opponent St. Mary's. CC's pitching staff plays a huge role in its success.  Madison Ramsey (1-0) has a 0.68 ERA, only allowing two runs in nine hits in ten and one-third innings pitched.      
 
Thomas vs. Faulkner (@1:15 PM EST)
Later that day, The Hunter Green & White will finally get that chance to go toe-to-toe with Faulkner (4-2).  While most of the Eagles' games come against Brenau, FLK has put up impressive numbers up to this point.  The team's batting average (.346) ranks 22nd in the nation, including three hitters at .400 or better.  Tara Ammons and Taylor Eddy play significant roles in the Faulkner offense, as Ammons brings home the RBIs with eight on the season, and Eddy rounds up the stolen bases.  Eddy's 1.5 stolen bases a game is a fourth best in NAIA, as the Senior is a perfect 9-for-9 on the season. 
 
The pitching unit for Faulkner has been efficient during the 2021 season.  While Meagan Schwieterman (1-0) may average one hit allowed an inning, the Junior has only allowed one run while in the pitcher's circle, recording eight strikeouts in the process.
 
The Night Hawks lead the Eagles 30-14 in the overall series that includes winning three of the last four contests.
 
Sunday's Game Previews
 
Thomas vs. Texas A&M-Texarkana (@10 AM EST)
Do not let TAMU-T's 3-3 record fool you.  After losing three, consecutive heartbreakers to start its season, the Eagles reeled off a series sweep of Texas A&M-San Antonio, outscoring the Jaguars 18-1 overall.  Texarkana's hitting unit will provide another challenge for the Night Hawks' pitching staff, hitting .344 on the season (35th-best in NAIA) and averaging 9.3 hits a game.
 
TAMU-T has also mastered the art of stolen bases, as the team is a perfect 23-for-23 on the season.
 
The pitching unit is as equally lethal, posting a 2.45 ERA and allowing an opponent batting average of .230.  Additionally, the Eagles average just under seven strikeouts a game, regardless of who is at the circle.
 
While Texas A&M-Texarkana statistically should be a stronger opponent, errors have been a huge hindrance to the team, averaging the seventh-highest error average in NAIA (3.167).
 
Thomas vs. William Carey (@12:15 PM EST)
The Lady Night Hawks will conclude the GSI with its third SSAC opponent and fourth on the season in William Carey (9-5).
 
The Crusaders ride into the weekend with a six-game winning streak after starting the season 2-4.  At the plate, Mary Grace Turner leads WCM in RBIs (11) as Rachel Rodriguez holds the team's highest active batting average (.409).
 
TU will face a fourth, consecutive opponent where pitching is the primary specialty.  Hailey Nations makes up a significant portion of the Crusaders' success in the circle, boasting a 1.03 ERA with 14 hits allowed and 33 strikeouts recorded in 34 innings.
 
The Night Hawks are hungry for a win over William Carey, as TU has not defeated the Crusaders since 2007.
 
Live access to the games has yet to be announced.  Check back in on our website or social media pages for updates.
 
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.