LAWRENCEVILLE, GA — The Thomas University softball team pulled off a late come from behind victory against the Eagles from Reinhardt University Sunday morning, pulling off an upset against the nationally recognized opponent and finishing the Grizzly Open with a record of 2-3 to start the season.
The Night Hawks (2-3, 0-0 SUN) found themselves in an early hole to start the game, after a homer from shortstop Emily Loveless gave the Eagles (4-4, 0-0 AAC) the 1-0 lead in the top of the first.
In the bottom half of the inning, TU's bats went ablaze, with three hits giving the Night Hawks a 3-1 lead heading into the second.
The second, third, and fourth innings were relatively quiet for both teams, with TU maintaining a 3-2 lead at the bottom of the fourth.
The fifth inning saw three hits turn into two Eagle runs for Reinhardt, before TU's Makana Pember led off the bottom half of the inning with a single. After that base hit, a double from Dara Moore advanced the junior to third before freshman Taylor Lanphere placed a single down the right side bringing home both Pember and Chauntavia Cliatt (who pinch ran for Dara Moore). The next two Night Hawk at bats saw a ground out and fly out. Leaving the fifth, Thomas held a narrow 5-4 lead.
The top of the sixth produced TU's lone error of the ball game, when an infield fielding error allowed RU freshman Hannah Kate Singleton to reach first. A pinch runner replaced Singleton, before an Emily Loveless double earned the sophomore her second RBI of the contest, tying the ballgame 5-5 heading into the final inning.
The final inning of the ballgame was full of action, as RU's Lauren Parker sent a single-run homer into center field claiming a late 6-5 lead.
With no more than three outs to play in the ballgame the Eagles had played nearly a perfect game, but the bottom half of the seventh was plagued with misfortune for the Eagles, as TU's Makana Pember reached first on a pitching error before a Corryne Diaz single saw Pember advance to third after an interference call was placed on the Eagles.
After that, a Dara Moore single, her fourth hit of the ballgame, brought Pember home from third earning Moore her second RBI of the contest.
Up next to bat would have been Adreanna Killingsworth, but a pinch hit substitution put Taylor Lanphere back up to bat for her third at bat of the game where she had already registered one hit and three RBIs.
Lanphere battled all the way to a full count, fouling off a couple of strikes, before an infield single snuck through the middle gap giving TU the late, come from behind, 7-6 win.
Senior Larran Carter earned her second win of the season, while Dara Moore (2) and Taylor Lanphere (4) each registered multiple RBIs. Shortstop Michaela Farr also picked up a single RBI as TU's thrilling 11 hit performance was just enough to outlast RV Reinhardt, 7-6.
Up next, the Night Hawks will host their 2022 home-opener this Wednesday, February 16th, when the Knights from Middle Georgia visit Armory Field for a non-conference doubleheader.
First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
For up-to-date information on Thomas University Softball 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.
