THOMASVILLE, Ga. — The Thomas University softball team stayed flawless in the Invitational Sunday, as the Night Hawks won both of their contests with successful scorelines of 3-0 and 8-5.
The Night Hawks (9-6, 0-0 SUN) opened the final day of tournament action by facing off against the Eagles (8-2, 0-0 SSAC) from Faulkner University.
Larran Carter got the nod inside the circle for game one, pitching seven innings and allowing three total hits. The senior starting pitcher also picked up nine strike outs, while only walking one batter in the contest.
TU picked up its first run of the game, as AnnMarie McAfee's sacrifice fly to left field brought Michaela Farr in to score, 1-0.
TU would solidify the win in the seventh, when Adreanna Killingsworth drove in two additional runs with a double to center field extnending the lead to the fine scoreline of 3-0.
Sunday's afternoon game was an instant classic, as TU and Xavier (La.) battled back and forth with TU escaping with the win after a successful three run frame in the eighth inning concluded Thomas' tournament action, 8-5.
The Night Hawks started the game with one run in the first, after Holly Campbell scored on a double to center field from Killingsworth.
TU would go on to score two more runs in the third before Xavier (5-14, 1-1 RRAC) added their first run of the contest, 3-1 in the bottom half of that inning.
The Gold Nuggets then scored two more runs in the bottom of the fourth tying the ballgame, 3-3.
Thomas then quickly responded in the top of the fifth, regaining the lead with Taylee Bragger advancing home on an error by Xavier's shortstop, 4-3.
The bottom of the sixth would give TU a late scare, as Xavier claimed its first lead of the contest, after a pair of consecutive hits brought XULA its tying and go-ahead runs, 5-4.
Entering the bottom of the seventh, TU trailed Xavier with three outs left in the ballgame in need of a run.
Holly Campbells leadoff flyout to center field brought Dara Moore up to bat in desperate need of a hit.
Moore's single to the outfield was followed by an Adreanna Killingsworth double, as the junior (pinch-hitting in place of Hunter Williams) put another ball in play advancing Moore around to third.
A Michaela Farr sacrifice fly directly followed for number two, giving TU the much-needed tying run, sending the game into extra innings knotted at five apiece.
The Night Hawks were then unstoppable in the top of the eighth, as the team registered three runs on four hits, and a stolen base.
TU started the inning with Sierra Tanner placed on second, Makana Pember then successfully hit a sacrifice bunt that advanced Tanner to third with one out in the inning.
AnnMarie McAfee then singled to left field bringing Tanner home, 6-5, but the Night Hawks weren't done, as the Ladies went on to drive two more runs home in the inning, extending the lead to 8-5.
Xavier then failed to register a hit in the eighth, with TU's Larran Carter (8-2) forcing a groundout, popup, and foul-out to escape the inning unscathed and picking up her second win of the day.
All combined, the senior struck out eleven batters in 10.1 innings played. Additionally, the Thomasville native only walked two batters on the day, while only allowing two earned runs.
Next up, the Night Hawks will travel to Middle Georgia for a chance at redemption against the Knights on Tuesday, with the team's scheduled to play a doubleheader.
Game one's first pitch on Tuesday, March 8th is set for 1:00 p.m.
Fans looking to tune in to the doubleheader can do so by accessing the links below.
G1 Live Stats (XML)
G2 Live Stats (XML)
Watch Live
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.
