Clearwater, Fla. - No. 4 seeded New College of Florida dropped a 6-5 heartbreaker to No. 5 seeded and RV St. Thomas on Thursday at the Eddie C. Moore Complex in Clearwater in its Sun Conference Tournament opener.
New College struck first in the opening inning as Samantha Suarez drove in Karyna Lewis with a sacrifice fly before an error by the Bobcat left fielder on a Madison Garcia single allowed Mackenzie Mathers to score to make it 2-0.
After St. Thomas answered with a two-run second to tie the game, the Mighty Banyans responded immediately.
Lewis doubled home a run before Mathers and Suarez each delivered RBI singles to push the lead to 5-2 through two innings.
New College held that advantage into the seventh behind a strong outing from Isabella Yazzetti, but St. Thomas rallied in the final frame. Christina Ortiz started the comeback with an RBI single before Jade Fayad added another run-scoring hit. Bailey LeGere then delivered the decisive blow with a two-RBI single to give the Bobcats a 6-5 lead.
Lewis finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored, while Suarez went 2-for-3 with two RBI. Mathers added two hits and an RBI, and Garcia and Jamie Reinhardt each recorded two hits as part of an 11-hit effort.
NCF will play No. 3 seeded and No. 18 ranked Coastal Georgia at 11:30 a.m. in an elimination game Friday.
The winner will face either Warner or St. Thomas at 4:30 p.m. Friday for the right to advance to Saturday's championship.
