THOMASVILLE, Ga. – On a blistering hot and sunny afternoon, the Thomas University baseball team swept the Warriors of Webber International in their double header opener of the weekend series.  The Night Hawks run-ruled Webber in eight innings taking game one 12-2 and then picked up the second victory of the afternoon in a 6-5 pitchers' duel.
 
In game one, the Night Hawks sent starter Monte Reese (3-3) to the mound.  The right-hander struck out six of the 30 batters he faced allowing two earned runs on seven hits while walking four.
 
Thomas took a commanding 4-0 lead in the opening inning of the game.  Shortstop Jake Desuyo and center fielder Jalbert Melo led the game off with back-to back singles.  Right fielder Casey Mannion walked to load the bases.  On a 2-2 pitch, designated hitter Josh Bruijn slapped a two-RBI single through the middle to give TU the 2-0 lead.  Two batters later, left fielder Jeremy Crosby lined a single to the left-center gap to plate Mannion and Bruijn for the 4-0 lead.
 
Both teams would score a run in the fourth to bring the contest to a 4-1 Thomas lead.  In the top of the fifth, the Warriors would score their final run of game one on a two-out double by Taylor Layner to deep center field to cut TU's advantage to 5-2. 
 
The Night Hawks would response in the bottom of the sixth to plate five insurances runs.  Reliever Justin Hicks came on in the seventh to pitch two scoreless innings striking out two of the eight batters he faced.  Thomas would go on to score two more runs in the bottom of the eighth to end the game in a 10-run rule.  Corey Conway would end the game with a sacrifice fly to deep left, scoring Brandon Singer from third.  Reese picked up the win with Hicks grabbing the save.  WIU's Sean Stanislawski was credited with the loss.
 
The night cap, even though the final score might not have reflected it, was a dueling battle between starters Tate Lambert (TU) and Matthew Gulik (WIU).  Lenin Sanchez led the game off for the Warriors singling to center.  After advancing to second on a grounder, Sanchez moved up 90 feet on a single by Taylor Reeves.  He then scored on a busted base coverage by the Night Hawks leaving home uncovered. Lambert recovered from his first inning jitters to pitch three scoreless innings heading into the fifth.
 
Desuyo would put the Night Hawks on the board in the bottom of the third, tying the ballgame at 1-1 with his first homerun of his Night Hawk career over the left field fence.  The next inning, Thomas plated five runs on three hits and three wild pitches by Warriors' reliever Joey Dinardo. 
 
Down, but not out, Webber would forge a comeback in the top of the fifth to score four runs, bringing TU's advantage to 6-5.  With the lead still intact, head coach Mike Lee brought reliever Ben Overman on to finish the game.  The right-hander pitched three flawless innings of work setting down all nine batters he faced in order.  Thomas picked up with win down the stretch to sweep the opening contests of the three game set.
 
Lambert (3-4) grabbed the win with Overman receiving the save.  WIU's Gulik suffered the loss.
 
Thomas improves to 13-13-1, 5-8 TSC, while Webber drops to 20-15, 5-9 TSC.

The Night Hawks return to action on Sat., March 21 when they wrap up their weekend series against Sun Conference rival Webber International.  The rubber game's first pitch is set for 12:00 p.m. from Varnedoe Stadium.
 
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.