COCHRAN, Ga. –  The Thomas University baseball team opened their 2016 season this afternoon on the road as they split the first two games of their three game set against Middle Georgia State. 
 
The Knights (1-1) pounced on Thomas in game one to take the 12-2 victory, but Thomas responded with the 11-6 win in game to even the series.
 
In game one, Middle Georgia opened the season with a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Andy Mocahbee lifted a sacrifice fly to left field to score Jesus Monserrat from third.  Thomas bounced back in the top of the second to take a brief 2-1 lead over the Knights.
 
Jeremy Crosby led off the inning with a single to left-center and then came around to score the first Night Hawk run of 2016 when Jalbert Melo walked with the bases load.  Before Melo's at bat, Yovanny Peguero singled to left and Blake Summers landed an infield bunt single to load the bases.  Tied at 1-1, shortstop Dillon True dropped a suicide squeeze bunt to score the second and final Night Hawk run of the opening game.
 
Middle Georgia would tie the game in the bottom of the second and then regained the 4-2 lead on a wild throw by Tanner Elsbernd.  The Knights would go on to score eight unanswered runs in the bottom of the fourth to take the 12-2 victory over Thomas.  TU's Neal Hunter (0-1) was credited with the loss while MGSU's Chris Rich picked up the win.
 
Game two's early innings favored the Knights as they jumped out to the 5-0 in the first two innings of the contest.  In the top of the third, Thomas' bats erupted to push the Night Hawks ahead 6-5.  Two innings later, the Night Hawks would once again plate five runs to boost their lead to 11-5.
 
The Knights tried to rally in the bottom of the sixth scoring one run, but the rally was stalled as Thomas went on to take game two 11-6, splitting the twin bill.
 
Thomas' Tyler Leach picked up the victory while Middle Georgia's Nick Junger received the loss.
 
Melo and Tanner Long led the Night Hawks going 3-for-8 and 3-for-6, respectively, on the afternoon.  The duo combined for six hits, seven RBIs, and three runs.

The Night Hawks (1-1) will look to pick up the series win against Middle Georgia State as they square off in the rubber game of the three game set on Sunday, Jan. 31.  First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at Stuckey Field.
 
For up-to-date information on this 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.