THOMASVILLE, Ga. – The Thomas Night Hawks swept the ABAC Fillies on a windy Saturday afternoon at Armory Field
Both games featured strong wind gusts throughout both games making hitting and pitching difficult for both teams. In game one, The Night Hawks jumped out to a fast start with
Ansley Eason leading off the game with a double and
Grace Hodges followed up with a walk to put two runners on, an interference call on
Alexis Adams advanced both runners to second and third opening up
Annalise Buncy to hit a sacrifice fly to score Eason. Then
Sierra Ussery hit her second home run of the season with a two-run shot to left center to break open the game.
Ussery was in the circle and dominated, throwing six scoreless innings and allowing six hits, striking out five. In the bottom of the fourth, Thomas strung together another run as
Ashton Lewis came home following a throwing error from center fielder Lexi Metts. However, they could not bring home
Kristin Steller and Eason who were left stranded to end the inning.
ABAC's best opportunity came in the top of the seventh as after two got on base for the Fillies, Carter Gore hit a single into center, which scored a runner following a throwing error from Hodges.
Darian Pippin came in to close out the game for Thomas. The Fillies scored two more runs on a fielder's choice and a throwing error by Eason to make it a one run game with two outs. The Night Hawks kept their composure and forced a flyout to win the game 4-3.
Game two saw Thomas jump out to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the second, Buncy started the rally by reaching on an error by the first baseman, then Ussery continued her hot streak as she doubled to right and Buncy held at third.
Baileigh Herrera was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs.
Ava Nunez came to the plate and dropped one into left to score Buncy. Following
Macie Spohn reaching on a fielder's choice to keep the bases loaded,
Lauren Hicks hit a slow roller to the shortstop to bring Herrera home. Eason cleared the base on a triple to left to bring Hicks and Nunez home, before Hodges hit a flyout to end the rally.
Herrera started and pitched a complete game in a commanding performance, allowing only four hits and four strikeouts across five innings of work. Thomas had another four-run inning to end the game as Hodges knocked a single up the middle to score Hicks, then Adams hit a double up the chute and advanced to third on a throwing error, bringing home Hodges and Eason. Buncy drew a walk which brought up Ussery who hit a walkoff single down the middle to end the game.
Thomas will be on the road next week as they travel to D-II Edward Waters for a doubleheader on Tuesday, March 18
th at 2:00 PM.
