MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (March 18, 2023) – Saturday afternoon capped off a three game series for the St. Thomas University (STU) Softball team (19-6, 4-2 SUN) against Thomas University (11-12, 2-4 SUN). The Bobcats took the rubber matchup to win their second straight Sun Conference series.

Thomas scored the first run of the game once again, but that did not faze the Bobcats who put up three in the bottom half of the first.

After a run tule victory to bounce back in game two of the series, the bats stayed alive in the first inning of game three. Sofia Negron drew a leadoff walk and stole second to put herself in scoring position. Gabriella Gilbert then delivered on an RBI-double over the right fielder to tie the game up at one. 

Marla Lavado delivered a single up the middle to put runners on the corners. Dovie Jarc came in as a pinch runner and delivered the perfect diversion on the first and third to draw a throw and get Gilbert to score while advancing to second. Ariana Manzanarez kept the inning going sitting on a full count change up to send it right back up the middle to score Jarc and make it a 3-1 game. 

Kaitlin Spalding was cruising through five inning throwing 86% strikes, 88% were as first pitch strikes.

After being silences for two innings, the bottom of the fourth received a boost of energy off the bench from Maria Barranco. In a pivotal moment of the game, Barranco delivered what ended up being the game-winning run with a pinch hit two-RBI double off the left field fence. This extended the lead to 5-1.

Thomas threaten with a pinch hit heroic of their own in the top of the sixth as Emma Abbey delivered a three-run shot over the left field fence. 

Melody Vizcaino came in and closed the door in the circle. Vizcaino threw two innings and picked up the save allowing just one hit and getting a three up, three down inning to close out the game in the seventh. 

This is the first series win over the Nighthawks since 2014. It also marks the first time since 2011 that the Bobcats win their first two Sun Conference series. 

St. Thomas will welcome Saint Ambrose for a doubleheader on Monday, March 20, for non-conference action. First pitch set for 4 p.m. 

-STU-