THOMASVILLE, Ga. — The Night Hawks had a mixed day on the diamond, first celebrating a solid 3-0 shutout victory over Abraham Baldwin (Ga.) and then battling fiercely in a nail-biting 10-inning pitchers duel.
Game 1: Night Hawks 3, ABAC 0
In the first game, the Night Hawks secured a complete-game shutout thanks to an outstanding performance by
Baileigh Herrera, who allowed only five hits over seven innings. The offense got rolling in the third inning when
Cameron Clontz drew a walk and moved to second on a well-placed sacrifice bunt by
Bradleigh Lott.
Grace Hodges delivered a single through the right side, bringing Clontz home for the first run, putting the Night Hawks ahead 1-0.
The fifth inning saw
Ashlyn Powell smash a double to right center before stealing third base.
Amber Hughes, pinch running for Clontz, stole second after a walk. Hodges stepped up again, delivering a crucial double to left field, driving in Powell and Hughes, and extending the Night Hawks' lead to 3-0 by the end of the inning.
Defensively, Herrera faced 27 batters, allowing five hits and issuing just one walk, maintaining a WHIP of 0.86. She kept control with 12 flyouts and nine groundouts, throwing 83 pitches with 55 strikes, improving her record to 5-10 for the season.
Grace Hodges shone with three RBIs and a double among her two hits, while
Ava Nunez chipped in with a double at the plate.
Ashlyn Powell added a double and a run scored, along with a stolen base.
Game 2: Night Hawks 2, ABAC 5
In the second game, the Night Hawks faced a tough challenge against Abraham Baldwin in a tense 10-inning showdown. The matchup remained scoreless through the first nine innings, showcasing a classic pitching duel. However, the Stallions broke through in the 10th inning with a series of decisive plays during the international tiebreaker period. The Stallions got on the board by scoring the runner on second with a fielder's choice. A single and an error allowed two more runs to score. The five run burst was capped by a single and a double.
Despite the uphill battle, the Night Hawks fought back in their half of the 10th.
Natalie Hiles, advanced to third on Hodges's single and scored thanks to a hit from
Alexis Adams. Hodges then crossed home on a fielding error, but the rally ended there.
Hodges racked up three hits, including a double, and scoring a run, with an OPS of 1.400.
Rileigh Spinosa was a force at the plate with two hits including a double and a walk, resulting in an OPS of 1.750.
Cameron Clontz delivered a solid performance on the mound, pitching 9.2 innings, allowing only two earned runs, and striking out five.
Alexis Adams contributed an RBI and a hit.
Up next, the Night Hawks will host Faulkner University on Tuesday, April 7, at 2 p.m. at Armory Field in Thomasville, Georgia for their first of four doubleheaders on the week.
