LAKE WALES, Fla. – The Thomas University baseball team split today's twin bill against Warner University to pick up their first series win in Sun Conference play.  While the Night Hawks lost game one 3-1 in the morning, they rebounded to pick up the 7-4 victory in game two this afternoon.
 
In game one, Warner opened the contest with a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first.  Broderick Rodocker lifted a sacrifice fly to deep right field to score second baseman Randy Rodriguez from third.  Previously, Rodriguez reached on a walk before being moved over to third on a single by first baseman Anthony Dovale.
 
After shutting down the Night Hawks in the top of the second, the Royals would plate two more runs in the bottom of the inning to increase their lead to 3-0.
 
The Night Hawks responded four innings later to score their lone run of the first game.  Leo Benjamin started the top of the sixth off with a single through the gap between short and third.  He would move to second on a single by Brent Slaughter then up another 90 feet when right fielder Brandon Singer was hit by a pitch.  After the Royals brought in reliever Jimmy Diven, second baseman Austin Corbitt would single to drive in Benjamin.
 
The Night Hawks would fall 3-1 in the game with starter Ben Overman being credited with the loss.  Diven received the win while Jordan Pike picked up the save.
 
Game two saw a different side of the Night Hawks than showcased in game one of the double header.  Thomas had no hesitation to get back on the diamond and instantly provided an offensive push in the opening inning of the contest to score three runs.

Center fielder Jalbert Melo reached first on an infield bunt before advancing 90 feet on a single by catcher Kaleb Holbrook.  Alan Baker came on as a courtesy runner for Holbrook.  After Crosby was hit by a pitch moving the duo up a base, Benjamin knocked in the first run of the game with a single to right field.  Slaughter would follow Benjamin with a sacrifice fly to right to bring in the second run of the game.  After a Warner error, Corbitt would hit a seeing-eye single to shallow left to give the Night Hawks the 3-0 lead.
 
Two innings later, the Night Hawks would plate three more runs to take the 6-0 lead.  The Royals responded in the bottom of the fourth to cut the lead to 6-1.  Thomas tacked on an insurance run in the top of the seventh when Slaughter perfectly placed a bunt down the first base line for the suicide squeeze, increasing their lead to 7-1.
 
Down but not out, the Royals attempted a late comeback in the bottom of the eighth plating three runs to cut TU's lead to 7-4.  This surge, however, was short lived, and Thomas pulled out the victory to win their first Sun Conference series of the 2015 season.
 
Monte Reese (2-1) picked up the victory while Warner's Dalton Kelley was credited with the loss.
 
"We struggled with getting runs in the first game leaving 12 runners on base," stated head coach Mike Lee.  "I felt that we showed better focus in the second game and did the small things to pull out the series win."
 
Thomas improves 9-5, 3-3 TSC, on the year while Warner drops to 4-8, 2-4 TSC.

The Night Hawks return to action on Friday, Feb. 27 when they travel to Lakeland, Fla., to face off against the 2014 Sun Conference champion Southeastern University.  First pitch is set for 6:00 p.m.

For up-to-date information on these games and other TU Athletics, visit www.TUNightHawks.com.  Stay up-to-date with news, scores, photos, game summaries, and feature stories of your TU baseball team by following them via Twitter at @NightHawkBaseba.