BRUNSWICK, Ga. - Playing in their first games in front of their home fans for the first time this season, the College of Coastal Georgia softball team swept their Friday double header with the Thomas Nighthawks on Friday afternoon at the CCGA Softball Field. 

GAME ONE: CCGA 2, Thomas 1

The Nighthawks (6-5) got early traffic on the base paths in the very first inning, using two straight singles to get runners at the corners with two outs, but Rylee Mills worked her way out of the jam to get her offense in the game for the first time. For the first time in their home ballpark, the Mariners (12-3) went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the first inning as the game went into the second still tied at zero. 

Both sides traded singles in the second, and after a double from the Nighthawks was thwarted by Mills in the third, the Mariners struck for the first time in the bottom of the third. After back-to-back singles from Avery Callaway and Emma Jones, Kaitlyn Carolino dropped a sac bunt down to move both runners 60 feet to put runners at second and third with just one out. Next up, Brooke Perdue lined out to third, as Mills came up with the chance for the first RBI's of the season at home. Mills delivered with a two RBI double into right center scoring Callaway and Jones to make the score 2-0 and give her some run support going into the top of the fourth.

A single and an error by the right fielder put runners at the corners with just one out, and the Nighthawks got right back in the game with a single from Herrera that never left the infield as Thomas scored their first run of the game to make the score 2-1. Even with getting two more runners in scoring position, Mills was able to salvage the inning and keep the damage to just one as the game went into the bottom of the fourth with CCGA leading 2-1. In the bottom, the Mariners got a pair of runners on, but a fielder's choice ended the inning as the game went into the fifth. 

Once again, both sides traded singles in the fifth with no noise, and in the sixth, Thomas had their next scoring chance. With one out, a walk and two straight singles loaded the bases with the Nighthawks looking to blow the game wide open. Mills once again slammed the door as she usually does, getting a strikeout and a popup to end the inning and keep the Mariners lead in tact.

McKenzie Collins started the bottom of the sixth with a single but the Mariners got no more traffic on, and in the seventh, Mills put away the Nighthawks in order 1-2-3 for the final outs of the game to secure the first home win of the season by a final of 2-1.

Mills, Collins, and Callaway all finished 2-3 from the plate with Mills grabbing both RBI's on the game. The sophomore also picked up win number five in the circle this season, going all seven innings allowing nine hits, one run, one walk, and three strikeouts.

GAME TWO: CCGA 4, Thomas 2

Thomas, now looking to play spoiler in game two of the series, got two runners in scoring position with two outs in the top of the first inning, but McKenzie Collins worked her way out of it to keep the game scoreless. Mills added a single in the bottom of the first, but nothing came to pass as the game went into the second tied at zero.

A single from Thomas and a walk from CCGA traded off in the second with no damage, and after a double play from the Mariners defense ended the third inning quickly for Thomas, it set up the Mariners offense to strike first. Two singles from Jones and Perdue set runners at first and second, setting the table for Collins who drove in the first run of the game with a single into left to give CCGA a 1-0 lead. Mills lifted a sac fly next up to score another run, and Mackenzie Southerland had the hit of the night as she missed a home run by inches to score the third run of the game with an RBI double as CCGA took a 3-0 lead into the fourth. 

Thomas responded with a two run inning in the fourth, but Emilia Clemons shut down a bases loaded one out situation that was destined for more trouble in the inning. In the bottom half, Alyssa Haggerty made her way to third, but could not score as the Mariners once again held a one run lead into the fifth.

Clemons mowed hitters down in the fifth and sixth innings, and in the bottom of the sixth, CCGA got her another run of insurance for the seventh. Haggerty once again started the inning with a single and after moving over on a sac bunt, came home to score on a throwing error to make the score 4-2 going into the final inning. 

Once again in the seventh, Clemons got the Nighthawks down in order 1-2-3 for the double header sweep by a final of 4-2.

Haggerty and Jones finished 2-3 from the plate with four different Mariners recording an RBI. Clemons moved to 5-0 on the season with 3.2 innings of relief allowing just one hit and no runs on two walks and three strikeouts. 

CCGA makes a quick turnaround as the host Truett-McConnell at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday.