MOUNT VERNON, Ga. — Thomas rallied for four runs in the fifth inning but could not overcome an early deficit, falling to Brewton-Parker, 5-4, Saturday afternoon in Game 1 of a doubleheader at Baron Field.
Game 1: Thomas 4, Brewton-Parker 5
Pinch hitter Kinley Libby provided the big blow for the Night Hawks, launching a three-run home run off Brewton-Parker starter Samantha Mathews in the fifth to give Thomas a 4-3 lead. Grace Hodges added an RBI double in the same frame to push across a fourth run. Thomas held just that one-run lead heading into the bottom of the fifth, however, the Barons answered with a two-run homer to put Brewton-Parker back on top, 5-4, a lead the Barons would not relinquish.
Herrera threw six inninga of work giving up only six hits, struck out two, and walked two.
The Barons built their early lead with a pair of unearned runs in the second inning when double to right field with two on drove in two runs, both scoring on errors.
Game 2: Thomas 9, Brewton-Parker 5
Thomas rebounded in dominant fashion in the nightcap, erupting for nine runs on 10 hits to top Brewton-Parker, 9-5, and salvage the split.
The Night Hawks scored in four different innings, putting three runs on the board in both the third and fourth frames to build a lead they would not relinquish. Grace Hodges went 2-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI, while Ava Nunez provided the signature blow of the game — a two-run home run in the fourth inning that capped a three-run frame and pushed Thomas ahead, 6-2. Cameron Clontz added a two-run double in the seventh to seal the victory, finishing 2-for-3 with two RBI. Ashlyn Powell also had a strong day, going 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored.
Natalie Hiles chipped in with an RBI single in the fourth, and the Night Hawks stole three bases as a team and took advantage of two Brewton-Parker errors to keep the pressure on all afternoon.
Cameron Clontz started in the circle and worked four innings, allowing two earned runs before giving way to a combination of Maggie Stubbs and Baileigh Herrera, who combined to hold Brewton-Parker scoreless over the final three frames.
Brewton-Parker had its moments, scoring three times in the fifth on a two-run double by Alyssa Usrey and an RBI single by Shelby Aiken, but Thomas answered with a two-run seventh to put the game out of reach.
With the split, Thomas has now won eight of its last 10 games.
Up next the Night Hawks travel to Georgia Gwinnett to play a three game set against the Grizzlies with game one scheduled for 4:00 p.m. on Friday and a doubleheader on Saturday to end the regular season.
