LAKE WALES, Fla. – The Thomas University baseball team finished their run in the 2015 Warner Invitational with a 6-6 tie against host Warner University.  Due to time constraints on the field and other tournament matchups to follow, the game was ended after the seventh inning concluded.
 
The Night Hawks jumped out to 2-0 advantage plating one run in each of the first two innings.  Shortstop Jake Desuyo led the game off with a walk and moved up 90 feet when Jalbert Melo reached on an infield bunt single.  Right fielder Casey Mannion put both Night Hawks into scoring position with a grounder to first.  Three pitches later, third baseman Leo Benjamin drove in the first run of the game with a bloop single to shallow left.  In the bottom of the second, Thomas would take the 2-0 lead on a Royals' error and then a single during the next at bat.  Left fielder Jeremy Crosby knocked in the second run of the game with a liner down the right field line.
 
Warner cut TU's lead to 2-1 in the top of the third before the Night Hawks regained their two run gap, 3-1, in the bottom of the fourth.  First baseman Brent Slaughter lifted a one-out single to center and then came around to score on a single to left by designated hitter Corey Conway. 
 
Over the next three innings, the Royals would take the 6-3 lead heading into the final three Night Hawk outs of the game.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, the Hunter Green and White went on the comeback trail and rallied to score three runs in the inning.  Second baseman Austin Corbitt started the rally with a single to center. Pinch hitter Alan Baker put two Night Hawks on the bases with a single to shallow left.  Desuyo drove in the fourth Night Hawk run of the game with an RBI-double down the left field line.  Baker would eventually score during this sequence when Warner's Jordan Pike mishandled the cut off throw.  Sitting at 6-5, Melo landed a sacrifice bunt to move Desuyo to third.  With one out in the inning, Mannion drove in the tying run on an RBI-ground out to second.  The rally ended when Colin Kirkland struck out looking to end the inning.
 
The game ended in a 6-6 tie at the conclusion of the inning due to time and field use constraints for the tournament's semifinal and final games.
 
Thomas moves to 11-13-1, 3-8 TSC, while Warner becomes 10-19-1, 3-7 TSC, on the year.
 
The Night Hawks return to action on Fri., March 20 when they host Sun Conference rival Webber International in a three game weekend series.  Game one will take place starting at 2:00 p.m. at Varendoe Stadium with game two starting 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first.  The rubber game of the series will be Sat., March 20 starting at 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.