Box Score On a record setting day at Varnedoe Stadium, Thomas University (6-15) fell 25-18 to Roosevelt University. The 25 runs given up by four different Night Hawks pitchers set a new program record for TU. The Night Hawks would hold the lead after 5 different innings only to give it up in the next.
The NIght Hawks opened the scoring in the bottom of the first when
Jalbert Melo tripled to left center and would score on a
Tanner Long single for the 1-0 lead after the first. Roosevelt (2-3) would score 5 runs in 2nd off of starter
Nick Riley. The Lakers would use 2 walks and 6 hits to take a 5-1 lead.
The Night Hawks would strike back in the 3rd, scoring 6 runs with two outs in the inning. A double by
Jeremy Crosby scored Melo, and a
Gavin Murphy single would score Crosby to cut the lead in half at 5-3.
Yovanny Peguero doubled home Murphy, and
Matthew Brady followed with a double of his own to the game at 5-5. TU loaded the bases after
Blake Summers was hit by a pitch and
Dillon True singled to set the stage for a
JR Cruess single up the middle for the 7-5 lead.
The Lakers would again get another 5 runs in the 4th, using 2 Night Hawks errors and 4 hits. Riley (3.0 IP, 11 H, 9 R, 3 BB, 3 K, 2 WP) was lifted during the inning for
David Wood, who couldn't stop the onslaught before RU took a 10-5 lead. Wood surrendered an unearned run in the 5th staking the Lakers to the 11-5 lead.
In the bottom of the fifth, Cruess doubled home Brady, and Melo would grab a 2-RBI single scoring courtesy runner
Austin Simmons and Summers to draw TU within 1 at 11-10. After a scoreless top of the sixth, Crosby would tie the game with a leadoff homer in the bottom of the inning. TU would take the lead later in the inning when Brady singled home Murphy who had doubled earlier in the inning. This would be TU's third lead of the day, 12-11.
In the seventh, Wood (4.0 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 K) surrendered the lead as RU scored 3 runs on 2 hits, a walk and a HBP to take the 14-12 lead. TU answered again in the bottom of the inning, scoring 3 runs of their own with 2 outs in the inning. An error on a bunt by Simmons scored Long, and another Brady single scored
Gant Highsmith and Simmons for the 15-14 lead, the fourth of the day for Thomas.
Jacob Moye replaced Wood in the 8th inning, giving up 2 runs on 2 singles and 2 walks as the Lakers took a 16-15 lead to the bottom of the 8th. The Night Hawks weren't done yet, as they plated the tying run as
Jalbert Melo tripled home Cruess. Long scored Melo on a sacrifice fly, and Highsmith would homer to give the Night Hawks a 18-16 lead headed to the ninth.
After striking out the first two Lakers of the inning, Moye (2 IP, 3 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 3 K) would give up 2 runs on a walk and hit by pitch, followed by a 2-RBI double to the game at 18. TU would get the winning run to second base in the bottom half of the inning, but would fail to score after consecutive fielders choice groundouts would quell the rally.
In the 10th, reliever
Codey Conway would be blasted for 7 runs on 5 hits, 1 walk and 2 HBP as the Lakers would take the 25-18 win. Melo ( 5-7, 3 R, 3 RBI, 2 triples, double) and Brady (4-6, 2 R, 4 RBI, double) were the offensive stars for TU. Conway would take the loss. Night Hawks pitchers gave up 23 hits on the day, along with 9 walks, 4 HBP, and 2 wild pitches, while the defense committed 6 errors. Half of TU's 22 hits were for extra bases, with 7 doubles, 2 triples, and 2 homeruns.
The two teams will square off again on Monday, March 7 at Varnedoe Stadium in the series finale. First pitch is scheduled for 3pm.
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.
