Thomas University (22-27, 8-11 TSC) blasted USC Beaufort 17-7 in the opening game of a three game set on Friday evening at Varnedoe Stadium. the Night Hawks pounded out 22 hits, including 6 for extra bases as 8 of 9 starters recorded at least one hit in the contest.
The scoring began in the first as the Sand Sharks tallied a run on 3 hits off of TU starter Jordan Martin, but the Night Hawks answered in the bottom of the inning when Levi Hollingsworth (1-4, 3 RBI) singled home Jalbert Melo (4-5, 4 R, RBI) and Gavin Murphy (5-5, 2 RBI) singled home Tanner Long (4-4, 4 R, 2 RBI) for the 2-1 lead. USCB would score another in the second inning to tie it up, and TU would be held scoreless for the only inning of the night.
In the third, USCB would again add a single run on 4 hits, but Martin would escape a bases loaded jam to keep the deficit at 3-2. In the bottom of the inning, Long opened with a single, followed by a double by Tanner Elsbernd (3-6, 3 2B, 3 R, 4 RBI). A Hollingsworth sacrifice fly would tie the game, and single by Reed Melcolm (2-4, R, 3 RBI) would give the Night Hawks the 4-3 lead through 3 innings.
The Sand Sharks would again storm back with 2 runs of their own in the top of the 4th to take a 5-4 lead, but TU wasn't done yet. In the bottom of the 4th, Long would single home Taylor Westbrook, and Melo would score on an Elsbernd fielders choice to give the Night Hawks the lead again 6-5. USCB would answer again in the top of the 5th with 2 unearned  runs on 1 hit and 3 errors. In the bottom of the inning, TU would tie it up on a sacrifice fly by Logan Place that scored Dillon True to tie the game at 7 apiece.
Beginning in the 6th, Martin would retire the next 9 in a row, as the bats came alive again for th Night Hawks. Melo would open the frame with his 6th homer of the year, followed by single by Long, and a double by Elsbernd. Hollingsworth came through with another Sacrifice Fly and Melcolm squeezed home the 3rd run of th einning giving TU the 10-7 lead. In the 7th, a bases loaded double by Elsbernd, and a double by Melcolm and another single by Murphy plated 5 runs in the frame , giving the Night Hawks the 15-7 lead. The game ended in the 8th inning by mercy rule when True hit a bases loaded single with two out to provide the final 17-7 margin.
Martin (7-4) garnered the win in his 4th straight complete game, giving 7 runs, 5 earned on 14 hits while walking 2 and striking out 5. It was the second  5 hit game for Murphy in the last week.
The Night Hawks are back in action on Saturday, April 15, when they complete the series with USCB with a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 12pm.