CLERMONT, Fla. – Heavy rains throughout most of the Florida peninsula wreaked havoc on the first day of the 2013 Sun Conference Softball Tournament, but the staff at the National Training Center worked hard to allow all five games to be played. Game one was delayed over seven hours and the final four games of the day were played two-at-a-time, enabling the tournament to remain on schedule heading into the second day.

Upsets were more common than not on Thursday, with three of the five games won by the lower seed. Two of the upsets were recorded by seventh-seeded St. Thomas, who knocked off No. 2 Webber International and No. 3 Southeastern.

Game 1 – No. 5 Thomas 6, No. 4 Warner 1

Fifth-seeded Thomas used a four-run second inning to open up a lead that they would never look back from in a 6-1 defeat of No. 4 Warner.

Alexa Fair was dominant in the circle for the Night Hawks, allowing only one hit, a third-inning single, in seven innings of work. Fair walked four and struck out six, giving up just one unearned run.

Brittany Mayhill went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored out of the leadoff spot for TU. Tabatha Martin finished 1-for-3 with the only hit of the game for the Royals.

Game 2 – No. 7 St. Thomas 8, No. 2 Webber International 2

The Bobcats scored five times in the second inning to run away from the second-seeded Warriors, knocking off the defending champions, 8-2.

Cristina Sacramento struck out 11 batters in a complete game pitching performance while also going 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored at the plate.

Christina Horton was 3-for-4 with three runs scored and Natalie Sacramento finished 3-for-4 with an RBI in the victory for St. Thomas.

Game 3 – No. 3 Southeastern 7, No. 6 Embry-Riddle 3

In a battle of first-year programs, the third-seeded Fire jumped out to a 4-0 lead en route to a 7-3 victory over Embry-Riddle.

Sam Rich was the player of the game, pitching all seven innings and going 3-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored and finishing a home run shy of the cycle.

Siera Spahiu ended up 1-for-2 with a home run and two RBIs for the Fire.

Game 4 – No. 1 South Carolina Beaufort 8, No. 5 Thomas 2 (6 inn. – rain)

The top-seeded South Carolina Beaufort Sand Sharks lived up to their billing, knocking off No. 5 Thomas 8-2 in six innings. The game was in the top of the seventh inning when the skies opened up, forcing the game to be suspended, with the intention of picking it up tomorrow morning. However, the Night Hawks have voluntarily elected not to resume the game, opting to call the game as it stands.

USCB scored a run in the first inning but Thomas came back with two runs in the third to take a brief 2-1 lead. The Sand Sharks rallied to score five times while batting around in the bottom of the third, opening up a 6-2 lead that would prove to be more than enough runs.

TSC Pitcher of the Year Kristy Cook went all six innings, giving up five hits and three walks while striking out nine. TSC Player of the Year C.J. Browder was 2-for-4 with two triples, two runs scored and two RBIs, while Mariah Sanborn was 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs.

Game 5 – No. 7 St. Thomas 6, No. 3 Southeastern 3

Just 30 minutes following its victory over Webber International, St. Thomas came back to pull another upset, this time defeating third-seeded Southeastern. The Bobcats scored five times in the fourth inning to take a 6-2 lead and they would hold on for a 6-3 win.

Brenda Emerson pitched around seven walks, allowing just two earned runs in a complete game victory.

Horton went 2-for-4 with a triple and two runs scored while Danielle Borrelli chipped in going 2-for-4 with a run scored.

Friday's schedule kicks off three straight elimination games, beginning with a matchup between No. 2 Webber International and No. 6 Embry-Riddle at 9 a.m. Immediately following that will be No. 4 Warner against No. 3 Southeastern at 11:30. The winner of the WIU-ERAU game will then face off against No. 5 Thomas at 2 p.m. At 4:30 p.m. the two undefeated teams, No. 1 USCB and No. 7 St. Thomas, will faceoff with a trip to the championship on the line. Day two wraps up with a 7 p.m. game featuring the winner of the Warner-Southeastern game against the winner of the Thomas-ERAU/WIU game.