MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The Sun Conference regular season title is still up for grabs as the Coastal Georgia softball team split their Thursday double header with the St Thomas Bobcats, dropping game one 3-0 before rebounding in game two winning 3-1. 
 
Game One: CCGA 0 , STU 3
 
The Mariners (0-0, 0-0 SUN) went right to work in the very first inning, as back-to-back singles from Sarah Thinger and Rori Rhodes put the pressure immediately on Anna Toon and the Bobcats (0-0, 0-0 SUN). CCGA was unable to cash in on the opportunity, however, as Toon got three straight outs to end the inning and keep the Mariners off the scoreboard.
 
Two straight walks started the bottom half for the Bobcats which ultimately produced a run as Palacios doubled to score Achenbach and put the first run of the game on the scoreboard. The Bobcats were threatening to score another as Toon lifted a fly ball into left, but Rhodes threw out Kopicova tagging at third to keep the deficit 1-0 going into the second.
 
After retiring the Mariners in order in the second, the Bobcats loaded the bases in the bottom half using a double, a walk, and a single with two out in the inning. Bryce Peacock got Palacios to fly out to end the inning and keep the Bobcats off the scoreboard going into the second.
 
Neither side recorded a hit in the third, and in the fourth, the Mariners went right back to work. Rily Andrews singled with one out in the inning, stole second, and advanced to third as Alyssa Haggerty reached on an error with two outs. Once again, the Mariners failed to get a runner across, and the Bobcats took advantage in the bottom half.
 
In the bottom half, the Bobcats got a pair of runs thanks to a pair of walks to leadoff the inning. Palacios and Toon both singled later in the inning off of new pitcher Elizabeth McGovern as St. Thomas grew their lead to 3-0 going to the fifth.
 
Both sides went quietly in the fifth, and the Mariners tried to get something going offensively in the sixth. With two outs in the inning, Mackenzie Southerland and Morgan Coleman singled back-to-back, but a flyout from Emma Jones ended the inning and the Mariners still trailed 3-0 going to the bottom half. Peacock, who reentered in the circle, retired the side in order to send the game to the seventh with the Mariners trailing 3-0.
 
In the final frame, Rhodes added a double with two outs, but nothing came of it as St. Thomas took the first game by a 3-0 final.
 
The Mariners mustered just five hits in game one, and all five came from five different players. Peacock went 4.2 innings in the circle giving up three hits and three runs, all earned, while surrendering seven walks.
 
Game Two: CCGA 3, STU 1
 
After the Mariners went down in order in the top of the first, St. Thomas jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on a solo home run from Achenbach. Kopicova and Palacios added singles right after, but starter Rylee Mills got the next three batters out to limit the damage and keep the Mariners in the game early.
 
In the top of the second, the Mariners got right back into the ballgame, scoring their first two runs of the game. Southerland singled with one out, and Rily Andrews sent her first home run of the season over the left field fence to give the Mariners a 2-1 lead into the bottom of the second.
 
Peacock and Mills singled back-to-back in the top of the third with two outs, but a groundout ended the inning before CCGA could add on. St. Thomas got two runners of their own on in the bottom of the fourth, but just like the Mariners the Bobcats could not add on and the game progressed into the fifth with CCGA still leading 2-1.
 
Toon recorded the lone hit of the sixth, a leadoff double, but Mills once again stranded the runner and the Mariners got an insurance run in the seventh.
 
Julianna Batts singled with one out in the seventh, stole second, and advanced to third on a single from Alyssa Haggerty. Coleman pinch hit for Jones and reached on an error, scoring Batts. Haggerty attempted to come around and score on the error, but was thrown out at home. Thinger grounded out to end the inning, and the game went to the bottom of the seventh with the Mariners leading 3-1.
 
In the bottom half, Mills shut down the Bobcats one last time in order, and the Mariners took the second game by a 3-1 final.
 
Batts and Haggerty both finished 2-3 from the plate in game two, as Andrews added a pair of RBI's. Mills went the complete seven innings in the circle allowing seven hits, one run, one walk, and two strikeouts.
 
With the split of the Thursday double header, the winner of the rubber match will be named the 2024 Sun Conference Regular Season champion. First pitch is set for Friday at 12:00 p.m.