THOMASVILLE, Ga. — The Thomas University softball team used a scoring frenzy in game two of its SUN Conference series doubleheader to win game two, and split Monday's return to action against #10 Coastal Georgia.
The Night Hawks used an offensive explosion to pull away for a 12-6 win in game two after losing game one 2-0 in a low-scoring pitching masterclass from both teams.
Game 1: Coastal Georgia 2, Thomas University 0
In a defensively oriented return to conference play, the Night Hawks' offense was silenced. As the #10 Coastal Georgia Mariners shut Thomas University out, scoring the lone two runs of the contest in the opening frame.
The Night Hawks (20-13, 7-7 SUN) started the contest in an early 2-0 hole after a walk in the first was followed by a two RBI home run by Coastal Georgia catcher Kayla Rowell.
After the game-opening homer, TU starting pitcher Larran Carter found her stride, limiting the Mariners (30-4, 13-3 SUN) from registering another hit in the contest until the seventh inning.
Despite the great pitching performance from Carter, Coastal's Hayley Dickerson was narrowly outdone, as the CCG junior almost equaled Carter's performance, limiting the Night Hawk's bats to just five hits in the contest.
Thomas' best chance to score was in the bottom of the fourth, as a pair of hits from Adreanna Killingsworth and Holly Campbell put runners on first and second with zero outs. A perfectly executed sacrifice bunt from Tiana Villagomez was followed with a Michaela Farr walk before a foul out and strikeout got the Mariners out of the bind, en route to the 2-0 victory.
In the end, TU's Larran Carter fell to 12-6 on the year pitching all seven innings allowing three hits, one walk, and two earned runs.
Game 2, Thomas University 12, Coastal Georgia 6
As game two began, a two run home run by Coastal's McCall Maret sent fans a reminder from game one, as for the second straight contest the Night Hawks trailed by two in the opening frame.
This time was different though, as the Night Hawks refused to stay in a hole, rallying behind a leadoff Makana Pember triple before a Dara Moore hit drove Pember home from third, 2-1.
Senior Holly Campbell followed with a single to left field before a Tiana Villagomez double brought both Adreanna Killingsworth (walked) and Moore home, retaking the lead, 3-2 at the end of inning one.
Neither team would add a run in the third before another TU leadoff triple, this time from Averie Sheppard, put another runner in scoring position with Adreanna Killingsworth up to bat. The junior followed with a double to center field, driving in Sheppard from third, before getting replaced with a pinch runner on second.
Another Dara Moore single advanced pinch-running Taylee Bragger to third, before the Night Hawks chose to utilize another pinch runner (Chauntivia Cliatt) to replace Moore on first.
Now with runners in both corners, Cliatt stole second on a pitch advancing Bragger home, extending the lead once more, 5-2.
In that same at bat, Holly Campbell grounded out to the shortstop as the Coastal Georgia infielder perfectly handled both Cliatt on second while timing the throw to first, just edging out Campbell's attempted infield single.
The infield excellence came to an end in the next at bat, as Tiana Villagomez stepped into the batters box leaving nothing to chance, skying a home run past center field, registering two more RBI, 7-2.
After that, the Night Hawks tallied another run in the fourth as Makana Pember advanced home on a Dara Moore single before the Mariners were finally able to capitalize with a run of their own in the top of fifth, 8-2.
The Coastal Georgia runs gave the Night Hawks a late-game scare as the the four-run inning narrowed the gap down to two, 8-6.
Thomas went on to steady the ship in the bottom of the fifth though, scoring four more runs on the way to the 12-6 win.
Thomas' starting pitcher Leanne Lain received the win, pitching 4.1 innings and allowing just two earned runs. TU's Larran Carter closed out the game pitching the final 2.2, as the pitching staff combined to allow eleven hits.
The offensive explosion in the second leveled the series back at one apiece, with game three scheduled to start tomorrow, April 12th, at 11 a.m.
First pitch will take place at Armory Field with the Night Hawks in prime position to give #10 Coastal Georgia its first SUN series loss of the 2022 season.
Fans can follow along with the contest by accessing the links below.
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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.
