Box Score

The Night Hawks baseball team travelled to Hardeeville, SC to take on USC-Beaufort in the 2016 Sun Conference opening series, and came up on the short end of a 9-2 score.

TU (3-4) started off well in the first inning, using a Jalbert Melo leadoff single, followed by JR Cruess reaching on an error by the shortstop. Tanner Long followed with a swinging bunt that was thrown wide of the bag at first, and Melo came around to score the game's first run. Tanner Elsbernd grounded into a double play, scoring Austin Simmons who was running for Cruess, and the Night Hawks led 2-0 after the top of the first. In the bottomof the first, the Sand Sharks (5-1) would answer with 2 runs of their own, using 3 hits from the first three hitters to tie the game.

In the top of the second, TU would squander a golden opportunity, loading the bases with no outs on singles by Yovanny Peguero, Brooks Timmons, and Timmy Roszell. However, a pop-up on an attempted suicide squeeze, and then a line out to third that would double-up Peguero would end the threat. USCB would add 2 more runs in the bottom of the inning to lead for the first time, 4-2.

The Sand Sharks would go on to add a single run in the 4th, and 2 more in the 7th off of Night Hawks starter Jordan Martin, before tallying 2 more in the 8th inning off reliever Nick Riley. Martin would finish the day with 6.2 innings, all 7 runs earned, 2 Ks and 1 walk. Cruess would finish with 2 hits on the day, the only Night Hawk with multiple hits.
The two teams will conclude the series on Saturday with a doubleheader in Hardeeville. First pitch is scheduled for 11am.

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.