THOMASVILLE, Ga. (March 20, 2019) – The nationally-recognized Webber International University softball team suffered its first conference defeat of the 2019 season so far after splitting its doubleheader with Thomas University on the road on Wednesday afternoon. Webber shutout the Night Hawks to win game one by a score of 1-0 before being shutout themselves in game two 2-0.

The game one win expanded Webber's opponents' scoreless innings streak to 36 consecutive innings spanning five games, and then that streak continued for three more innings reaching 39 innings until the Night Hawks finally put a run on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning of game two.

Game one for Webber was highlighted by starting pitcher Stephanie Johnson (3-1), who pitched a complete game shutout allowing just three hits and three walks while striking out three. After Johnson and the Warriors defense stranded runners on third base in each of the first two innings before Webber took the lead in the third inning, Johnson found her groove and did not allow a single hit over the final five innings and set down the Night Hawks 1-2-3 in each of the final four innings.

It was Johnson's second complete game shutout of her sophomore campaign so far as her earned run average dropped to 2.68 on the season.

The game-winning run for Webber came off the bat of junior catcher Victoria Atkinson, who drove in Mary-Margaret Maggard with a single through the left side with two outs in the third inning.

In game two, Webber could not get a run on the board as it left seven runners on base throughout the game.

The Warriors managed at least one baser runner in every inning until the seventh and left a runner in scoring position at second base in each of the first, second and fifth innings.

Emma Maitland (5-2) lost for only the second time this season, pitching the complete game allowing only one earned run and one walk with six strikeouts. Like, Johnson, Maitland also allowed only three hits.

Maitland did not allow a hit until the fourth inning when a two-out single by Hannah Wilde scored the first run of the game for Thomas. Then, two innings later, Wilde homered to make it 2-0.

CC Smith led the Warriors' offense in game two going 2-for-3 while Kaitlin Cockcroft, Blakeleigh Boyett and Alyssa Rodriguez all added a hit as well. In game one, Atkinson finished 1-for-3 with an RBI while Maggard finished 2-for-3 with a run scored.

"It was good to see the girls come out and take game one against a very good Thomas program," said Head Coach Kristy Burton. "Stephanie [Johnson] did a great job in the circle keeping Thomas off of the base paths, and we were able to get the timely hit when it mattered. Offensively as a whole today, we struggled in both games to get the runs we needed. We are putting the ball in play aggressively, but are struggling to hit as a team. The adjustments and timely hits just didn't go our way. We have to get better at making adjustments sooner and staying locked into playing all seven innings of both games. We look forward to being back in action at home this weekend versus Ave Maria."

Webber moved to 16-8 overall and 5-1 in The Sun Conference to remain in first place in the TSC standings. Thomas is now 11-13 overall and 5-3 in the TSC as the Night Hawks remained in third in the conference standings.

Webber will return home on Saturday, March 23, to host TSC opponent Ave Maria University starting at 1 p.m.