THOMASVILLE, Ga. - Thomas begins the
Randy Adams era Saturday with the first two of three games at No. 15 Middle Georgia State. First pitch in game one is set for 1 p.m. ET. The two teams finish the series Monday at 4 p.m.
This season marks the fourth-straight the Night Hawks have opened their season with a three-game set against the Knights.
Live stats for each game will be provided through TUNightHawks.com. Updates will also be available on Thomas' official baseball Twitter account (@NightHawkBaseba).
Games 1-3/Thomas (0-0) at #15 Middle Georgia State (0-0)
Saturday, Jan. 27 • 1 p.m. ET (DH)
Monday, Jan. 29 • 4 p.m.
Cochran, Ga. • Stuckey Field
Live Stats:Â Stretch Internet
Twitter Updates:Â @NightHawkBaseba
ON THE BUMPÂ
Saturday, Jan. 27 (Game One)Â
RHP
Daniel Williams (0-0, 0.00) vs. RHP Jared Crews (0-0, 0.00)Â
Saturday, Jan. 27 (Game Two)Â
RHPÂ
Chris Rzewnicki (0-0, 0.00) vs. RHP Crandall Poore (0-0, 0.00)Â
Monday, Jan. 29
TBA vs. TBA
ABOUT THOMAS
The Night Hawks went 25-33 last season and 10-14 in The Sun Conference (TSC), finishing sixth before advancing to the league tournament, which included a win over No. 7 Keiser (Fla.) in the opening contest.
Jalbert Melo is the leading returning batter after posting a .330 average, nine dingers, 41 RBIs, 62 runs scored and 20 doubles en route to a first team All-TSC honor. He drew 37 walks and was 13-of-15 in stolen bases. Melo's 58 games played were the most in a season in school history. Melo also set the single-season school records for at bats (211), runs scored (62), doubles (20) and walks (37).
Logan Place and
Gavin Murphy also return in 2018. Place batted .313 with nine doubles. Murphy batted .304. Melo and Murphy each started 57 games last year, the most in a season in program history. Rzewnicki went 3-4 last season in 14 games, including six starts, and posted a 3.22 ERA.Â
Dominic Berlin's .990 fielding percentage in 2017 ranked fourth best in program history minimum 100 chances.
Of the 43 home runs hit by Thomas in 2017, players that accounted for 33 return this year. The Night Hawks return 13 letter winners and five everyday starters from last season.
Thomas was 8-10 in true road games last year.
Adams enters his first season as a head coach at any level after being promoted on June 1, 2017, following the retirement of
Mike Lee. Adams spent the previous five years as a Night Hawk assistant. He also played three seasons (2009-11) for the Green and White.
Thomas has been picked to finish sixth according to the 2018 Sun Conference Baseball Preseason Coaches' Poll.
ABOUT MIDDLE GEORGIA STATE
The Knights went 46-16 in 2017, including 18-4 in the Southern States Athletic Conference, good for first place. Middle Georgia State advanced to the National Championship Opening Round, going 3-2 in the Lima Bracket.
The Knights finished No. 13 in the final NAIA Top 25 Poll last season after reaching a high of No. 10 in the final weeks.
The Knights return three position players and two pitchers from their starting lineup from 2017 but lost their top four home run hitters who accounted for 50 dingers and 242 RBIs.
In 16 games with seven starts in 2017, Crews was 5-2 with a 2.20 ERA. In two starts, Campbell was 0-2 with a 10.29 ERA.
Middle Georgia State went 25-7 at home last year.
LAST SEASON AGAINST THE KNIGHTS
No. 17 Middle Georgia State took two of three games against Thomas at Varnedoe Stadium and one home game, 13-1, on March 21. The Knights defeated the Night Hawks, 7-5, in game one Jan. 28, 2017 but lost game two, 12-5. Middle Georgia State took the rubber game, 4-2, on Jan. 29.
