LAKE WALES, Fla. (March 31, 2023) - St. Thomas University (STU) Softball (24-9, 6-4 SUN) ends the month of the March the same way it started, in victory. The Bobcats took game one of a three game Sun Conference series on the road Friday evening against Warner University (11-20, 4-9 SUN). Despite being no-hit St. Thomas won in extra innings 2-1 over the Royals.

Kaitlin Spalding got the start in the circle and through 6.1 innings innings allowing just three hits and walk but no runs scored. Abbigail Smith came into relief in the bottom of the seventh after Spalding gave up a one-out single.

Smith picked up a strike out against the first batter she faced and then got a ground out to force extra innings.

Samantha Suarez came in to pinch run on second base in the tie breaker and stole third. Suarez then scored the first run of the game on a passed ball.

Warner tied things up in the bottom half of the eighth forcing another tie breaker inning. 

This time it was Gabriella Gilbert representing the go-ahead run at second base. Gilbert advanced to third on a wild pitch. Jade Fayad then hit a ground on all to the short stop and reached on the error by brought home Gilbert on the play.

Smith went back out in the circle and stranded the runner on third securing back to back strike outs.

St. Thomas will look to get the bats going in the double header tomorrow, Saturday April 1, against Warner to secure another Sun Conference series win. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.

-STU-