LAKELAND, Fla. – The Thomas University baseball team was swept in today's double-header start of their weekend series against No. 13 Southeastern University.  The Fire defeated the Night Hawks 6-2 in game one and 8-5 in the second contest.
 
In the opening game of the series, the contest started out as a classic pitchers' duel.  Both starters pitched three scoreless and virtually hitless innings to start.  In the top of the fourth, the bats' silence ceased.
 
Thomas put the first run on the board in the top of the fourth.  Corey Conway reached first when he was hit by a pitch during the Night Hawks' second at bat during the inning.  Three pitches later, designated hitter Josh Bruijn lined a single to left field.  Southeastern's left fielder went to retrieve the ball and misplayed the ball allowing it to shoot past him.  This error allowed Conway to score from second to give the Night Hawks the 1-0 lead. 
 
After a scoreless fifth inning, Southeastern tied the game on a Night Hawk error in the bottom of the sixth.  Three outs later, Thomas would regain the 2-1 lead in the top of the seventh when third baseman Leo Benjamin lifted his first homerun of the season over the left-center field fence.  In the bottom frame, the Fire would tie the game at 2-2 on another defensive miscue by the Night Hawks.  Thomas combined for a total of five errors in the first game, four from Jeremy Crosby and one from Conway.  Ultimately, these miscues were the demise of game one adding fuel to SEU's rally in late innings.
 
The Fire would go on to score four runs in the bottom of the eighth on just two hits to take the game 6-2 after setting the Night Hawks down in order in the ninth.  Night Hawk reliever Neal Hunter suffered the loss while SEU's Dylan Jameson was credited with the win.
 
Southeastern continued with an offensive run in the early innings of game two.  After pitching two scoreless innings, the Fire would take a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second, and then increase their lead to 6-0 one inning later.  The Night Hawks would get on the board in the fourth when SEU's Sean Anderson dropped a pop fly allowing Crosby to score from third.  Previously, Crosby reached on an infield single and then moved up 90 feet on a wild throw by Luis Diaz.  A ground ball to short by first baseman Brent Slaughter advanced Crosby to third.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, the Fire would plate two insurances to widen their gap to 8-1.  Down, but not out, the Night Hawks would score a run in the seventh and two in the eighth to narrow SEU's gap to 8-4.  Faced with their final three outs, Thomas attempted a comeback, but was only able to manage one additional run falling in the 8-5 defeat.  TU's Justin Hicks received the loss while SEU's Jordan Gard collected the win.
 
"Today, we had a lot of mental errors in the field that forced us to play from behind the majority of both games," stated head coach Mike Lee.  "While we can't pick up the series win tomorrow, there is still an opportunity to pick up a win to head back to Thomasville on a positive note."
 
Thomas drops to 9-7, 3-5 TSC, while the Fire improve to 13-6, 6-2 TSC, on the year.
 
The Night Hawks return to action on Saturday, Feb. 28 when they wrap up their three game set against Southeastern University.  First pitch is scheduled for noon.
 
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.