HARDEEVILLE, S.C. – Thomas University held off USC Beaufort in the final frames to take home the 13-11 victory Friday night at Richard Gray Baseball Complex.
TU held the 11-5 edge after five innings, but USCB scored five in the eighth inning to make it a one-run game heading into the ninth. Thomas scored one and held USCB scoreless in the final frame.
Jake Webb was 3-for-5 with three RBI,
Logan Place connected on a triple and Jalberto Melo,
Justin Young and
Wyatt Petrey each tallied a double for the Night Hawks.
LHP
Dillon Rutland earned the win for TU, allowing five runs from nine hits while striking out three in 5.2 innings.
Patrick Haley earned the save, striking out two while allowing two runs from three hits in 2.0 innings.
Thomas improves to 20-17 with the victory.
TU scored a pair of runs in both the first and second inning, then added four more in the third to take the 8-0 lead. USC Beaufort then scored four of its own in the bottom of the third. TU scored one in the fourth and two in the fifth, then USCB tallied one in the fifth and one in the sixth. Both teams were held scoreless in the seventh. Thomas took a 11-6 lead into the eighth, and scored one in the top of the inning, but the Sand Sharks scored five in the bottom of the frame to draw the score within one. TU added one in the ninth and held USCB scoreless in the bottom of the ninth to take the 13-11 victory.
Jake Webb hit a leadoff single down the left field line to start the game, but pinch runner
Logan Place was thrown out at third as
Chase Hinson reached on a fielder's choice.
Taylor Westbrook singled through the left side, plating Hinson. Then
Justin Young doubled down the right field line to push Westbrook across for TU's second run.
In the second,
Landon Boyette was hit by a pitch, but was thrown out at second as
Keefer Beaty reached on a fielder's choice to third. Beaty advanced to second on a passed ball, then Webb drew a walk. Hinson drove in the two runs with a single to right center.
Westbrook and Young took walks then each advanced a base on a wild pitch to start the third inning.
Wyatt Petrey doubled down the left field line to drive in two runs. With one out, Boyette drew a walk, then with two outs, Webb singled through the right side to plate two more Night Hawks.
USCB scored four runs from five hits in the bottom of the third.
Melo was hit by a pitch to lead off the fourth and advanced to second as Westbrook reached on an error. The pair successfully completed a double steal, then Melo scored on a sac fly to left by Petrey.
Base hits by Boyette and Place then a walk dealt to Hinson loaded the bases in time for a two-RBI double by Melo in the fifth.
Two hits plated one run in the fifth and a HBP then a triple scored one more in the sixth for the Sand Sharks.
Melo drew a leadoff walk in the eighth, stole second, advanced to third on a ground out, then scored as Young grounded out to shortstop.
In the bottom of the eighth, USCB drew three walks, was hit by one pitch and connected on three base hits to plate five runs before TU pitcher
Patrick Haley forced the Sand Sharks to hit into a double play and ground out in consecutive at bats to end the inning.
Thomas scored an insurance run in the top of the ninth as Place tripled to right center then scored on an RBI single by Webb.
In the bottom of the ninth, Haley struck out the first two batters, then forced the final batter to ground out to shortstop, giving TU the 13-11 victory.
Thomas and USCB play a doubleheader on Saturday, with the first pitch of game one at noon.
