LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga.— Thomas built a five-run lead behind a pair of two-run doubles from Alexis Adams and Cameron Clontz, but Georgia Gwinnett erased the deficit with a three-run sixth inning Friday afternoon at Grizzly SB Complex.
Thomas struck quickly and struck hard. Ava Nunez led off the game with a walk, and Grace Hodges followed with a single to left. After Cloey O'Doniel moved the runners with a sacrifice bunt, Adams drilled a two-run double to right center to put the Night Hawks on top 2-0.
The offense picked up right where it left off in the third. Hodges and O'Doniel hit back-to-back singles to open the inning, and Adams stroked an RBI single to load the bases. Clontz then cleared the bases with a two-run double to left center, chasing Georgia Gwinnett starter Tatum Helsom. Reliever Kailyn Berry was brought in but couldn't stop the damage immediately, as Baileigh Herrera grounded out to plate one more run and push the lead to 5-0.
Clontz finished the game 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI, while Adams went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored. Hodges added two hits and scored twice from the leadoff spot, and pinch hitter Kinley Libby delivered a two-out single in the sixth off Berry to keep a potential rally alive — though Thomas ultimately couldn't push across another run.
Thomas committed no errors and outhit Georgia Gwinnett 11-8, but left six runners on base and went 4-for-9 with runners in scoring position.
