CLERMONT, Fla. – The Thomas University softball team faced RV Webber International for the fifth time this season, but for the third time in the series, errors and blunders would cost the Lady Night Hawks the game and ultimately the season, as TU fell to the Warriors, 5-3, in extra innings Friday night at PFX Athletics Legends Way Ballpark.
 
Thomas (24-19) outhit Webber for the first time all-season, 10-7, notching its 14th double-digit hitting total in a game in 2021.  Senior Rebecca Boesen (9-11) pitched seven innings, allowing no earned runs in six hits with six strikeouts.
 
With one out in the top of the first and runners on first and second base, the Warriors' Victoria Atkinson flied out to right field, but the tag up throw to 3B was overthrown, allowing Webber to advance its runners and score to take a 1-0 lead. Both teams exchanged 1-2-3s, setting up Thomas for an opportunity to tie the game in the bottom of the second.  After picking up two outs, the Lady Night Hawks got Freshman Jaelynn Vialpando and Sophomore Alexus Johnson on base before a fly-out to left field ended the inning.
 
Webber threatened to extend the lead in the fourth inning with the bases loaded, but Abigail Thompson grounded out to Johnson, allowing the Hunter Green & White to escape a jam.
 
With two outs in the top of the fifth, the Hunter Green & White anticipated an upcoming bunt attempt from WIU's Alyssa Rodriguez, but the decision to move the infielders up backfired, as Kelsea Friend was left a clear path to steal third. The throw towards third went wild, and Friend took off for home to score, giving Webber a 2-0 lead.
 
The Lady Night Hawks would make up for the error in the bottom half of the inning, stringing together three hits.  Vialpando hit a leadoff single that was followed by a double from Johnson.  After a strikeout, Freshman Adreanna Killingsworth hit a sacrifice fly to left field that brought home Thomas' first run of the game.  Freshman Averie Sheppard would tie the game, 2-2, on the next at-bat with an RBI single towards shortstop.
 
Following an out to lead off the bottom of the sixth, Junior Corryne Diaz delivered a ground hit toward outfield that turned into an error, enabling the Gardnerville, Nev. native to take second.  Diaz proceeded to head to third but Webber regrouped while Diaz was en route, getting the throw in time for the inning's second out.  That did not stop the Lady Night Hawks from continuing to add more hits on the board, as Mauldin's single paved the way for a Vialpando go-ahead RBI double that put Thomas in front 3-2.
 
The Hunter Green & White had two, golden chances to put the game away and seal the potential win in the top of the seventh after recording two outs in the first three at-bats.  The next batter, Kelsea Friend, faced a 3-2 count before singling to put runners on first and third.  Against Kaitlin Cockcroft on the next at-bat, Boesen quickly threw two strikes for an 0-2 count, but as the third pitch was thrown, Cockcroft connected to shortstop, but the throw was not made in time, as Thompson scored the game-tying run (3-3).
 
In the top of the eighth, the Lady Night Hawks walked the leadoff hitter before Junior pitcher Larran Carter entered the game.  The Thomasville, Ga. native picked up two outs before a hit by Haley Saylor was mishandled by Johnson, allowing the Warriors to add the game-winning run 4-3.  Webber would follow up on the momentum swing with a RBI triple from Thompson to go back up by two runs (5-3).
 
Thomas would try to keep the game alive following a leadoff single from Senior Holly Campbell, but the Warriors would pick up the next three outs to clinch a 5-3 win and advance to the championship.
 
The Lady Night Hawks' season ends at 24-19 overall and 12-12 in The Sun Conference.
 
For up-to-date information on this tournament 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.