COLUMBUS, Ga. — The Night Hawks carved out a 7-4 win against #7 Cumberlands (Ky.) and fell in game two against #24 Rio Grande to split day two on Saturday at South Commons Softball Complex at the NFCA Lead Off Classic.
Game 1 Thomas 7, Cumberlands (Ky.) 4
Fueled by five doubles and a crucial four-run fifth inning, the Night Hawks maintained their lead despite a late push from Cumberlands in the seventh inning.
The Night Hawks broke the ice in the third inning. After
Ava Nunez drew a walk and
Cloey O'Doniel singled,
Alexis Adams took a hit by pitch to load the bases.
Rileigh Spinosa delivered with a sacrifice fly, sending Nunez home.
Ashlyn Powell followed with a double to center, bringing in O'Doniel and Adams to put the Night Hawks up 3-0.
In the fifth, the Night Hawks widened their lead. With two outs, Adams singled and Spinosa was hit by a pitch. Powell's double, combined with an error, allowed both runners to score.
Baileigh Herrera doubled to score Powell, and a pinch-hit single by
Kinley Libby brought in Herrera to put the Night Hawks up 7-0.
Cumberlands tried to rally in the seventh inning and were able to manage a grand slam but, the Night Hawks held firm to secure the victory.
Herrera threw six innings of work and held one of the top offenses scoreless for six complete, with three strikeouts and one walk. Facing 30 batters, she threw a total of 91 pitches, 62 of which were strikes, earning her first win of the season (1-3).
Maggie Stubbs was effective in relief in the seventh, facing three batters and retiring them all on flyouts to clinch the save.
Powell led the charge with four RBIs and notched two doubles. Adams crossed home plate twice and added a double in his two-hit outing. Herrera contributed both on the mound and at the plate, with two hits and an RBI. O'Doniel collected two hits, scored once, and reached base three times.
Game 2 Thomas 3, Rio Grande 9
The Night Hawks faced a tough match on Saturday at South Commons, falling 9-3 to the #24 University of Rio Grande. Despite the setback, the Night Hawks tallied an impressive 10 hits.
The game kicked off with the Red Storm taking an early lead, courtesy of a three-run homer in the first inning, putting them up 3-0.
The second inning saw no change in the scoreboard as both teams held firm. By the end of the third, Rio Grande widened the gap with three more runs, pushing the score to 6-0.
In the fourth inning, the Red Storm added another run via a fielder's choice, bringing it to 7-0. The Night Hawks fired back in the fifth, with O'Doniel singling to drive in
Cameron Clontz, making it 7-1.
Thomas ramped up the pressure in the sixth inning, adding two more runs. Clontz doubled to score Powell, and Hiles grounded out, allowing Herrera to cross home plate, closing the gap to 8-3.
Rio Grande scored one last run in the seventh, sealing their 9-3 victory over the Night Hawks.
Adams led the charge with three hits, consistently delivering at the plate. O'Doniel notched two hits and an RBI, while Herrera chipped in with two hits and a run. Clontz also contributed two hits, including a crucial double, driving in a run and scoring once herself.
Next up, the Night Hawks will face Texas A&M University-San Antonio on Friday, March 6, at Gulf Shores Sportsplex in Gulf Shores, Alabama for their first game of the Gulf Coast Invitational, with the first pitch scheduled for 3:45 p.m. CST.
