LAKE WALES, Fla. – The Thomas University baseball team split their games on the day two of the 2015 Warner Invitational.  The Night Hawks began the day with a 17-2 win over Saint Francis (Ill.) and then lost game two in a controversial call in the final inning against Spring Arbor in a 2-1 defeat.
 
In the morning matchup with the University of Saint Francis, the Night Hawks exploded on the offensive side of the ball.  TU starting pitcher Ben Overman (2-3) pitched a complete game striking out three of the 27 batters he faced while only surrendering two earned runs on five hits.
 
Thomas led from the opening inning of play.  Catcher Kaleb Holbrook drove in the first run of the game in the top of the first with a single to center field.  The hit scored Jalbert Melo, who doubled to the right-center gap during his at bat.
 
Sitting tied at 2-2 heading into the top of the third, the Night Hawks would take the 4-2 lead and never look back.  Over the next three innings, Thomas would plate 13 runs to head to the 17-2 victory.  The sixth inning saw eight Night Hawks cross the plate.  In the top of the fourth, Melo, who was having a career game, launched a two-run homer over the left field fence.  Two batters later, right fielder Casey Mannion hit a solo shot to the same spot.
 
In the top of the sixth, the Night Hawks batted around.  Melo contributed two doubles in the inning, picking up three RBIs.  The designated hitter went 4-for-5 in the game with three doubles, one homerun, and five RBIs.
 
Game two was a grueling pitchers' battle that ended in a questionable manner.  TU's starter Monte Reese surrendered the first run of the game to Spring Arbor in the top of the first when Adam Rojas lined a two out RBI-single to shallow left.  The Cougars had runners on first and second who reached on walks earlier in the inning.  SAU would expand their lead to 2-0 in the top of the third when third baseman Chris Wegrzyn scored on a sacrifice fly by second baseman Tyler Baker.
 
In the bottom of the third, the Night Hawks cut the Cougars' lead in half, 2-1, on an RBI-double by Mannion.  Four innings later, Mannion came to the plate and hit what the Thomas faithful thought was the tying run of the game with a homerun over the left field fence.  However, Mannion was ruled out by the umpire for not touching home plate.  Two outs later, the Night Hawks faced the 2-1 defeat.
 
Reese (2-3) suffered the loss while SAU's Sam Memmelar picked up the win.  Heath Sullivan was credited with the save.
 
"Our earlier game definitely put us back in the mindset of where we need to be," stated head coach Mike Lee.  "Two wins in a row against quality opponents helps refocus and motivate our players.  Down the stretch, we have got to do a better job of executing on defensive and putting the ball in play in scoring situations."
 
Thomas moves to 11-13, 3-8 TSC, while Saint Francis (Ill.) drops to 4-12 and Spring Arbor improves to 7-3 on the year.
 
The Night Hawks return to action on Sat., March 14 when they their wrap up tournament play in the 2015 Warner Invitational.  At press time, their opponet had not yet been determined.  Check back on the TU baseball schedule page for their next opponent and start time.
 
For up-to-date information on this game 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.