THOMASVILLE, Ga. — The Thomas University softball team stunned #21 Southeastern University Tuesday afternoon, successfully shutting the powerhouse university out in a 5-0 victory.
The scoring started in the first after a leadoff hit and steal found Averie Sheppard on first with Dara Moore up to bat. Moore then followed with double to center field, opening the game 1-0.
A pair of three-at-bat innings then ensued for both Southeastern and Thomas, sending the teams to the third inning with the same scoreline of 1-0.
Southeastern the found its second hit of the ballgame in the third, after lead-off batter Riley Sanders singled in the infield before advancing to second on a stolen base.
A deep line drive to right field almost leveled the contest at one apiece, but TU's Makana Pember went full-stretch on a dive, registering out number three, helping TU escape the inning unscathed.
That momentum then fueled the Night Hawks' offense as a Hunter Williams walk and an Averie Sheppard hit found both runners in scoring position with Dara Moore up to bat. Then, SEU did the unthinkable, walking Moore into first, leaving TU in a bases loaded situation with one out. Unfortunately for the Night Hawks, an ensuing popup and groundout from the next two TU batters helped the Fire escape the inning without conceding a run.
TU then found its next run in the bottom of the fourth, after an AnnMarie McAfee walk brought DeeAurah Bradshaw in as a pinch runner. A successful sacrifice bunt from Michaela Farr progressed the junior to second, with Lanphere then sending an infield groundout for another advancement to third.
An infield error for SEU then allowed Hunter Williams to create an RBI, bringing Bradshaw home, extending the contest to 2-0.
A single-hit inning for the Fire barely gave Southeastern a chance to regroup before the Thomas University offense once again jumped into the batter-box looking to wreak havoc.
The bottom of the fifth would be instrumental in TU's win, as a three-hit, three-run inning solidified Thomas' victory in its SUN Conference home-opener.
The fifth inning saw TU first fall behind in the inning after a ground out and fly out brought Southeastern outs number one and two with a lone runner on third. That situation seemed to barely matter for TU though, as Holly Campbell stepped up to bat sending a beautiful grounder through the infield gap to extending the lead to 3-0. A pair of walks then placed runners on first, second and third, bringing freshman Taylor Lanphere back up to the plate.
Lanphere would then do exactly like the senior before her, skillfully placing another infield single through a gap, adding two more runs to the tally, extending the lead to the final score of 5-0.
Senior Larran Carter (11-3) picked up the win for TU as the starter, pitching all seven innings and allowing just four hits.
Up next, the Night Hawks will regroup to play Southeastern again on Tuesday, as the doubleheader is set for noon and 2 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.
