THOMASVILLE, Ga. – The Thomas University baseball team dropped an extra innings 9-6 loss tonight to NCAA Division II foe Georgia Southwestern State University.
 
In the top of the first, the Hurricanes took the 2-0 lead on three key hits.  Center fielder Evan Alderman led the game off with a single to center and then advance to second when left fielder Brett Burgess squeaked a chopper through the hole between first and second.  After first baseman Davey King reached on a walk to load the bases, third baseman Paul Sorrow smashed a two-RBI double to the left-center gap to give the Hurricanes the early advantage.
 
After three scoreless innings, the Night Hawks cut GSW's lead to 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth.  Right fielder Casey Mannion led the inning off with a double to deep center and then scored on a double to the same spot by left fielder Jeremey Crosby.
 
Each team went scoreless until the eighth inning.  The Hurricanes plated two runs in the top half of the inning to increase their lead to 4-1; however, the Night Hawks powered back to score four runs in the bottom frame to take the 5-4 lead.  With one out in the inning, shortstop Jake Desuyo lifted a double to left.  Two batters later, Mannion ripped a two-run shot over the left-center fence to cut Georgia Southwestern's lead to 4-3.  With two outs in the inning, the Night Hawks rallied to take the lead.  Designated hitter Josh Bruijn reached on an infield single and then was replaced by pinch runner Corey Conway.  Two pitches later, catcher Zach Tutak slapped a double down the first base line to put two Night Hawks into scoring position.  Alan Baker came on as a courtesy runner.  JR Cruess, who came on as a left fielder in the top of the inning, delivered the go-ahead runs for Thomas placing a bloop single to shallow left field, scoring Conway and Baker.
 
The Hurricanes rallied in the top of the ninth to score the tying run, forcing extra innings.  In the top of the 10th, GSW carried their momentum into the extra frame to score four runs for the 9-5 lead.  Thomas, who was down to their final three outs, mounted a comeback in the bottom of the inning.  Mannion led the inning off with his second home run of the game.  The blast smashed into the scoreboard that sits above the right field fence. 
 
Thomas' rally came up short in the inning with back-to-back grounders to end the game.  Reliever Codey Conway suffered the loss with GSW's Michael Ranieri picking up the win and Kyle Romstadt receiving the save.
 
"We had several opportunities to score runs tonight, but wasted our chances," stated head coach Mike Lee. "We can't keep shooting ourselves in the foot when we have opportunities like these."
 
Thomas drops to 14-15-1, 6-8 TSC, while Georgia Southwestern improves to 9-20, 2-16 PBC.
 
The Night Hawks return to action on Fri., March 27 when they host Sun Conference rival and 18th ranked Embry-Riddle in the first contest of their three game weekend series.  First pitch is set for 3:00 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.