West Point, GA | The Thomas University Softball Team earned their first SSAC conference series sweep of the 2024 season on Saturday afternoon, by taking two games from the Skyhawks of Point University.
Game One
The first game in the series would remain scoreless until the top of the fifth inning. In this inning, the Night Hawks would plate the first and only run produced by either team in the contest. Kristen Stellar would kickstart the inning with a single and advance to second base on an Ava Nunez groundout. Stellar would then reach third base courtesy of a Hailie Stewart groundout. With Stellar sixty feet away, Averie Sheppard would produce an RBI triple to give the Night Hawks a 1-0 advantage.
From there, the Night Hawks would showcase a tremendous effort on defense to keep the Skyhawks from plating a single run. Thomas would take game one, 1-0.
Amber Griffin would be credited with the complete game shutout for the Night Hawks. In seven innings of work in the circle, Griffin would strikeout three Skyhawks, while allowing just five hits and zero earned runs.
Game Two
The Night Hawks would use the victory in game one to fuel their performance in game two. In the first inning of play, an Ansley Eason RBI single would plate Sheppard, who reached via a walk, to give the Night Hawks an early one run advantage.
In the top of the fourth inning, the Night Hawks would plate an additional run on an Elizabeth Soto RBI single that would bring Stellar, who singled, across the plate.
In the following inning, the Night Hawks would add three more runs to their total. The first run would come courtesy of a Grace Hodges RBI double that would plate Sheppard, who walked. Hodges would later cross the plate courtesy of a Skyhawks throwing error. The final run in the inning would be produced by a deep sacrifice fly from the bat of Kennedy Hardy that would plate Eason, who reached via a bunt single. At the conclusion of the inning, the Night Hawks would hold a 5-0 advantage over the Skyhawks.
The Night Hawks would plate one insurance run in the top of the seventh inning. Ashton Lewis would begin the inning with a leadoff double. With Lewis in scoring position, Stellar would produce an RBI double to plate the final run of the contest. The Skyhawks would never recover, and the Night Hawks would take game two 6-0, earning their first SSAC conference sweep of the 2024 season.
Sierra Ussery would be credited with the win for the Night Hawks. In five innings pitched, Ussery would face 18 batters and allow just two hits and zero earned runs. Dale Elmore would also make an appearance in the circle for the Night Hawks. Elmore would face nine batters in two innings of work. Of those nine batters faced, Elmore would allow just two hits and zero earned runs.
Next Up
The Night Hawks will look to carry their success to March, 21st as they take on the Rams of #13 University of Mobile. The SSAC matchup will feature a doubleheader beginning at 5 PM in Mobile, AL.
For up-to-date information on this game and other TU Athletics, visit http://www.TUNightHawks.com. Stay up-to-date with news, scores, photos, game summaries, play-by-play, and feature stories of your TU Softball team by following them via X, previously known as Twitter, at @NightHawksSoftb.
