THOMASVILLE, Ga. – Thomas University baseball defeated Florida National, 20-7, in game one on Friday afternoon at Varnedoe Stadium. TU won the second game, 3-2, to improve to 16-17 overall this season. 

TU rallied for 20 runs from 15 hits in game one. In the second game, pitcher Dillon Rutland struck out eight and allowed just two runs in 6.1 innings. 

The teams wrap up the three-game non-conference series Saturday at 2 p.m. in Thomasville, Ga. 

Game One
TU rallied for 20 runs from 15 hits in game one. FNU scored three in the first inning, then TU matched in the bottom of the frame. After a scoreless second, FNU plated two in the third, and Thomas answered with eight in the bottom of the inning. Florida National scored one in the fourth, TU added two more, then FNU scored its final run in the fifth, while Thomas went on to score seven more in the sixth. 

Wyatt Petrey was 3-for-4 with two doubles and three runs scored while five other players – Gavin Murphy, Chase Hinson, Jalbert Melo, Taylor Westbrook and Justin Young – each had a pair of hits for the Night Hawks. 

Brandon Geiger earned the win on the mound, striking out three while allowing five runs from four hits in 3.0 innings. Holden Alexander came in for relief, striking out two, but giving up two runs from three hits in 4.0 innings. 

FNU's three runs came from three hits in the first inning, then TU tallied three runs from four hits and an FNU error. With one out, Hinson and Melo singled, then Westbrook hit a two-RBI double. Young then had a base hit to plate Westbrook. 

FNU scored two runs from one hit and a TU error in the third. Then Thomas exploded for eight runs from four hits and an error. Melo led off by being hit by a pitch, Westbrook singled and Young was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Petrey hit an RBI single for TU's first run. Then Landon Boyette reached on an error, which allowed Young to score and a balk plated Petrey. Dominic Berlin drew a walk then Keefer Beaty hit an RBI single. Murphy drew a walk to load the bases, then Hinson connected on a triple. 

After the Conquistadors scored one in the fourth, Thomas scored two more runs from one hit and two errors. Petrey hit a leadoff double and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Boyette drew a walk, stole second, advanced to third on an error by the catcher and scored on an error by the centerfielder. Petrey also scored on the error. 

FNU added one more run in the fifth inning, then TU exploded again for seven runs from five hits. Petrey hit a leadoff double and Boyette drove him in with a base hit. With one out, Yovanny Peguero, in for Beaty, reached on an error, then Murphy hit an RBI single. Hinson also reached on an error, followed by Melo's RBI single. Westbrook drew a walk, while plated one more run, then Hinson scored on a passed ball. Young's single scored Westbrook and Melo.  

Game Two
Thomas struck first in game two, scoring one in the second inning. FNU responded with two in the third to take the lead, but Thomas scored a pair of runs in the fifth to earn the 3-2 victory. 

Pitcher Dillon Rutland struck out eight and allowed just two runs from six hits in 6.1 innings. Patrick Haley earned the save by striking out one in 0.2 innings. Petrey knocked a home run, his fifth of the season. 

Petrey's leadoff homer in the second inning put Thomas on the board first, but FNU also hit a leadoff homer then back-to-back doubles plated their second run of the third inning. 

In the bottom of the fifth, Hinson drew a one-out walk, then Melo reached on an error. Westbrook singled to plate Hinson, then Young sent a sac fly to right field to score Melo.