JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Thomas University baseball team split their doubleheader series on the road this afternoon with Edward Waters College picking up a 15-12 victory in game one while dropping game two 5-3.
 
In the opening game of the doubleheader, both teams battled through a 12 inning slugfest with the Night Hawks coming out on top.  The Tigers jumped out to the 2-0 advantage in the first two innings of play.  The Night Hawks responded with four runs in the top of the third to take the 4-2 lead.  Center fielder Jalbert Melo started things off with a double down the left field line.  He would come around to score when right fielder Casey Mannion crushed a two-run homer over the left field fence to tie the game at 2-2.  Designated hitter Josh Bruijn kept things going for Thomas driving a single to left.  With one out in the inning, catcher Kaleb Holbrook laced a double to deep center field to put runners on second and third.  Left fielder Jeremy Crosby gave the Night Hawks the 4-2 lead with a two-RBI double down the left field line.
 
Edward Waters countered in the bottom of the third to tie the game at 4-4.  The Tigers capitalized on a passed ball and wild pitch to score the third run of the game before EWC's designated hitter Ricardo Mateo smashed a solo homerun over the right field fence to tie the game.
 
The offensive fury continued in the top of the fourth with the Night Hawks scoring four runs to take the 8-4 lead.  The first run of the inning was scored on a misplayed grounder by EWC's Jordan Pontius.  With the bases loaded, Crosby drove in his third, fourth, and fifth RBIs of the game with a bases clearing double down the left field line. 
 
TU's starting pitcher, Ben Overman, was relieved by left-hander Tate Lambert in the bottom of the fourth.  Jonathan Irra welcomed Lambert to the game with a single up the middle.  Irra would come around to score the fifth Tiger run of the game on a two-out double to the right field fence.  The Tigers would cut Thomas' lead to 8-6 in the bottom of the fourth before the Night Hawks responded with four runs in the top of the fifth to increase their lead to 12-6.  With two outs in the inning, second baseman Austin Corbitt reached on a walk.  He would come around to score three pitches later when shortstop Jake Desuyo doubled to left-center.  Melo would drive in the 10th run of the game with a double to the deep left.  Still with two outs in the innings, Mannion gave the Night Hawks the 12-6 advantage lifting his second two-run homer of the day over the center field fence.
 
Right-hander Tyler Leach came on in relief in the bottom of the fifth.  While he pitched a scoreless fifth, the junior gave up four runs in the sixth to bring TU's lead to 12-10.  The Tigers would tie the game in the bottom of the seventh when EWC's Wyatt Reid hit a two-run shot over the left field fence off reliever Codey Conway to put the game into extra innings.
 
After being shutout in the first four extra innings, the Night Hawks' offense came alive in the top of the 12th.  Desuyo was hit by a pitch to lead the inning off.  Thomas put runners on first and second when Melo reached on an eight pitch walk.  Brandon Singer then placed a bunt down the third base line that EWC's third baseman Alberto Rivera over threw at first to allow Desuyo to score the go-ahead run while moving Melo to third.  Corey Conway would drive in the 14th Night Hawk run of the game with a sacrifice squeeze bunt down the first baseline.  With one out in the inning, replacement catcher Zach Tutak would give the Night Hawks an insurance run with a drag bunt for an infield single, bringing in Thomas' 15th and final run of the game in its 15-12 victory.
 
The Night Hawks fell in the night cap of the twin bill losing 5-3.  Edward Waters charged out to the 5-0 advantage after the first four innings of play.  Thomas jumped on the board in the top of the sixth to cut the Tigers' lead to 5-2.  Mannion led the inning off with a single up the middle and then scored when a single hit by Holbrook slipped by EWC's right fielder.  Two batters later, Leo Benjamin would drive in the second TU run of the game with a bloop single to shallow right. Down 5-2 heading into the seventh, the Night Hawks mustered a rally to score one additional run.  While the effort was valiant in nature, Thomas fell 5-3 to split the series.
 
Thomas improves to 18-21-1, 9-11 TSC, on the year while Edward Waters drops to 21-16, 6-2 GCAC.

The Night Hawks return to action on Fri., April 10, when they open their three game series at home against Sun Conference rival and No. 3 Northwood University (Fla.).  First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. from with game two beginning 30 minutes after the conclusion of game one.
 
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.