AVON PARK, Fla. – Thomas University baseball lost, 4-1, to Spring Arbor (Mich.) University, then bounced back with a 10-9 win over St. Francis (Ill.) University Thursday at the Warner Invitational.
Thomas continues play in the tournament tomorrow, facing Lourdes (Ohio) at 10 a.m. at Highlander Baseball Field in Lake Wales, Fla. Then at 1:30 p.m., TU battles No. 9 Bellevue (Neb.) at Charles R. Head Field in Avon Park, Fla.
Game One
After Spring Arbor (Mich.) scored one in the second, Thomas matched with a run in the top of the third, but the Cougars plated three in the bottom of the frame and earned the 4-1 win at Jeff Sikes Field in Lake Wales, Fla.
Gavin Murphy and
Chase Hinson were both 2-for-3 in the game. RHP
Brandon Geiger took the loss for the Night Hawks after striking out six and allowing five hits and just one earned run in 6.0 innings.
A walk, fielder's choice, wild pitch and base hit led to Spring Arbor's first run. Then a walk to
Wyatt Petrey, sac bunt by
Trent Miller and base hits from Murphy and Hinson tied the game. With two outs in the third, SAU hit a single, reached on an error and drew a walk before a bases-clearing triple plated three runs.
Game Two
Thomas started strong with six runs over the first two innings, but USF made a comeback with two in the third and a pair in the fourth before TU scored two more in the fourth to take the 8-4 edge. A five-run sixth by St. Francis wiped away the Night Hawks' lead, but TU plated two in the bottom of the sixth to take home the 10-9 victory at Charles R. Head Field in Avon Park, Fla.
Justin Young was 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and three RBI while
Trent Miller blasted a solo homer.
Jalbert Melo (3-for-4),
Taylor Westbrook,
Dominic Berlin and
Gavin Murphy (2-for-3) each tagged a double in the game.
LHP
Dillon Rutland started the game, striking out two and allowing four runs from five hits in 5.0 innings, but RHP
Patrick Haley earned the win, finishing the game with just one hit allowed in 1.2 innings.
In the bottom of the first, Murphy hit a leadoff double, then
Keefer Beaty came in to pinch run. With one out, Melo singled to center, plating Beaty. Then Young stepped to the plate and launched a two-run shot to right.
Miller connected on a solo homerun with one out in the second inning. Murphy drew the walk, and Beaty again came in to pinch run, then stole second base. Hinson's base hit through the right side pushed Beaty across the plate. With two outs, Young sent a shot to second, but was thrown out at first as Hinson scored.
A pair of two-run homers in the third and fourth got USF back in the game, then TU added a pair of runs in the fourth. Melo collected two RBI off his double after Murphy and Hinson had reached on base hits.
St. Francis saw three TU pitchers and scored five runs from two hits and one Thomas error in the top of the sixth.
In the bottom of the sixth, Berlin pinch hit for Hollingsworth and sent a two-out go-ahead double to right field, plating Young and Melo, who each had singles to get on base.
Defensively, Thomas turned a double play to end the game and take the 10-9 victory.
