May 18, 2007

Whitney Hess propels Savannah College of Art and Design to 5-1 victory over University of Mobile at 2007 NAIA Softball National Championship

DECATUR, Ala. - Thomas (Ga.) University converted three Houston Baptist University miscues into five unearned runs as the Night Hawks defeated the Huskies 5-2 in Pool C of the 2007 NAIA Softball National Championship Friday (May 18) afternoon at Wilson Morgan Park.

The 13^th-ranked Night Hawks improved to 25-17 overall and to 1-0 in Pool C while the sixth-rated Huskies fell to 45-11 and 0-1. Thomas returns to play at 8 p.m. when they host Shorter College while Houston Baptist will face Bethel (Ind.) College in a 6 p.m. contest.

Thomas took a 3-0 lead in the second inning. After Erika Vargas committed two errors, Tina Donaldson, who went 2-for-3 with 3 RBI, drove in two runs with her single to shallow center. Katie Pickelsimer accounted for the other run with her run-scoring double.

Houston Baptist closed to within 3-2 as the scored single runs in the fourth and fifth innings.  The Huskies got their run in the fourth on back-to-back doubles by Melissa Wright and Kim Cook. HBU scored an inning later on a home run to right by Angelica DeVries, who went 2-for-4.

Thomas added two insuring runs in the sixth. Stacey Ward, who reached on a single, scored after Kim Cook dropped Sarah Yingling's fly ball.  Donaldson closed out the scoring with an RBI double.

Kylie Berryman (8-4) picked up the complete-game victory while Cheri Wood (25-6) took the loss.

In addition to Donaldson, Candice Wimmer, Joann Tosh and Ward each collected two hits. Wood and Lorin Leatherwood added two hits each for the Huskies.