Thomas University (21-27) split a doubleheader with Edward Waters on Tuesday afternoon at Varnedoe Stadium. The Night Hawks dropped the first game 7-5 before bouncing back to win the second game 6-4.
The Tigers opened the scoring in game one in the top of the first, tallying 2 runs on two doubles and a sacrifice fly off of Night Hawks starter Justin Youg to take a 2-0 lead. TU used 3 walks and a sacrifice fly by
Yovanny Peguero to score
Jalbert Melo to cut the lead to one run after one inning. In the second inning, TU would tie the game as
Gavin Murphy led off the inning with a homer to right field, and would take the lead on a 2-RBI single by
Tanner Elsbernd to stake Young to a 4-2 lead after 2 innings.
EWC would answer in the top of the third, scoring 4 runs on 6 hits and an error, grabbing a 6-4 lead they would not relinquish. The Tigers would add a run on a homer off of TU reliever
Joshua Roye in the top of the 6th, but the Night Hawks would respond with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning. With two out in the inning, Elsbernd doubled down the left field line to score Melo, closing the lead to 7-5.
The Night Hawks would threaten in the bottom of the 7th inning, loading the bases with 1 out, but a strikeout and a flyout would end the threat and the game. Young takes the loss on the mound, surrendering 6 runs on 8 hits in 4 innings of work, walking 2 and striking out 1. Elsbernd went 2-4 with 3 RBI and Melo scored 3 runs.
In game two, the Tigers would again strike in the first inning, scoring an unearned run off of starter
Jaime Rivera and taking the 1-0 lead. In the bottom of the inning, back-to-back doubles by
Tanner Long and Melo tied the game, and Melo would later score on a Peguero single to give the Night Hawks a 2-1 lead.
In the second, EWC would score 2 runs with two outs to reclaim the lead, but only for a short time. TU scored 3 runs in the bottom of the inning on another double by Long that scored
Dillon True, and a 2-RBI single by Melo that scored Long and
Taylor Westbrook giving TU a 5-3 lead after 2 innings.
Dominic Berlin stretched the lead to 6-3 in the third inning with an opposite field homer off of the scoreboard.
Chris Rzewnicki would come on in relief to work out of a jam in the fourth, and pitch a scoreless fifth inning.
Jacob Moye hurled a perfect 6th inning with 2 strikeouts before turning it over to
Ryan Pierce in the 7th. Pierce would get 2 outs in the seventh after a leadoff walk, but gave way to
Shane Davis who surrendered a run scoring double before striking out the final Tiger to get the save. Long would finish 3-4 with 2 doubles and Melo added 2 hits and 3 RBI.
THe Night Hawks return to action at Varnedoe Stadium on Friday, April 14, when they host USC Beaufort in a Sun Conference series. First pitch is scheduled for 5pm.
