Coastal Georgia showed its resilience and clutch ability Thursday evening, rallying for two runs in the top of the seventh inning to defeat St. Thomas 2-1 and improve to 30-5 on the season. In a tight pitcher's duel from start to finish, the Mariners found a way to get it done on the road.

It was a low-scoring affair throughout, with St. Thomas taking a 1-0 lead in the second inning on a solo home run by Jade Fayad. Both pitching staffs were locked in, and the Mariners had opportunities to score but were kept at bay by a sharp performance from St. Thomas starter Christina Ortiz, who worked all seven innings for the Bobcats.

Coastal Georgia came alive when it counted most in the seventh. Brooke Perdue led off with a single, and pinch hitter Ella Romano followed with a clutch double down the left field line to put runners on second and third with one out. McKenzie Collins delivered a sacrifice fly to tie the game, and after Kaitlyn Carolino drew a walk, Emma Jones came through with a single up the middle to score Romano and give the Mariners the lead for good. It was exactly the kind of situational hitting that has made Coastal Georgia one of the top programs in the country this season.

Rylee Mills was superb in the circle all evening, going the full seven innings and allowing just one earned run on six hits while striking out two on only 64 pitches. She never issued a walk and was in control throughout, improving her record to a remarkable 17-1 on the season. Mills continues to be one of the most dominant pitchers in the nation, and Thursday's performance was another example of why.

Jones was the offensive hero of the night, going 2-for-4 with the game-winning RBI. Romano made the most of her pinch-hit opportunity with the key double that ignited the rally. Perdue and Andrews each added hits, and Carolino drew two walks and played a key role in the decisive seventh-inning frame.

The Mariners head into the rest of their road trip with plenty of momentum.