Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
Thomas University (16-24, 4-11) swept a doubleheader from Ave Maria on Saturday, walking off in both wins. TU picked up the 5-4 win in the first game, and routed AMU 13-3 in the second. The sweep marks the first conference series win for the Night Hawks in 2016.

In game one, the Gyrenes picked up a run in each of the first two innings to lead 2-0 headed to the bottom of the third. With a full count and two outs with the bases loaded, Blake Summers smashed a double down the right field line to score all three runners and give TU a 3-2 lead. TU would add a another run in the 5th, when Jeremy Crosby doubled to deep right-center, scoring Jalbert Melo from second.

With a 4-2 lead, Kris Lee entered the game on the mound in relief of starter Neal Hunter in the top of the 8th. After 2 strikeouts, Lee surrendered a base hit and homerun that tied the game at 4. Jacob Moye came in to get in the final out of the inning. Neither team could muster any offense in the next two half-innings, sending the game to the bottom of the ninth tied at 4.

JR Cruess led off the inning with a single, and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Melo. After an intentional walk, Crosby hit a grounder to short, but beat the throw to first on the double play to keep the inning alive. Gavin Murphy played the hero, bouncing the 3-2 pitch through the hole at shortstop to score Cruess and give the Night Hawks the 5-4 win.

Hunter pitched seven innings, giving up 2 runs on 4 hits, while walking 1 and striking out 13. Moye picked up the win in relief. 

In game two, Thomas jumped out early with 3 runs in the first, and continued to pour it on from there. Cruess walked to lead off the inning, followed by a Melo single. Courtesy runner Austin Simmons would score on a Crosby single, and Tanner Elsbernd would double home Melo and Reed Melcolm for the 3-0 lead.

Starter Tate Lambert would give up a solo homer in the top of the second inning, but TU would answer in the bottom half with 2 outs when Cruess walked again, and courtesy runner Simmons advanced to third on another Melo single. Matthew Brady would bounce an infield single to score Simmons, and Melo advanced to third on the throw. An error would score Melo to give the Night Hawks a 5-1 lead after two innings.

AMU used 2 doubles in the top of the 4th cut the lead to 5-2, but TU added an unearned run in the bottom of the 4th, when Elsbernd singled and stole second. He would advance to third on a single by Alan Baker, and later score on a wild pickoff attempt by the AMU catcher to give Thomas a 6-2 lead.

AMU would homer again in the top of the 5th to close within 3 runs, but TU would open the floodgates in the bottom of the inning to put the game away. With the bases loaded and 1 out, Cruess was hit by a pitch to drive in Elsbernd, and Baker would then score on a balk. Melo doubled home Summers and Cruess, and Brady and Crosby both reached on errors. Brady scored on a fielders choice by Elsbernd to make the score 12-3 through 5 complete.

David Wood relieved Lambert with 1 out in the 5th, and worked 1.2 innings of scoreless relief. The game ended in the bottom of the 7th when Brooks Timmons blasted a leadoff homerun to left to provide the final 13-3 margin. Lambert pitched 5.1 innings, giving  up 3 earned runs on 7 hits, while striking out 5 in the win. Melo finished the game 4-5, with 2 RBI and 2 runs scored. Crosby and Elsbernd each added 2 RBI.

TU gets back on the diamond on Tuesday, April 12, when they travel to Jacksonville, FL to take on Trinity Baptist. First pitch is scheduled for 3pm. 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.