THOMASVILLE, Ga. – The Thomas University baseball team split with University of South Carolina Beaufort Saturday afternoon at Varnedoe Stadium, falling 10-7 in 10 innings in the first game, then winning the second, 15-5. 

The Night Hawks improve to 24-21 overall and 10-11 in the Sun Conference. The Night Hawks have won their fourth straight Sun Conference series, taking 2-of-3 games from Ave Maria, Warner, Webber International and now USCB.

TU is sitting sixth in the league with three games to play next weekend. To secure a spot in the Sun Conference Tournament, TU needs a Florida Memorial loss on Monday. If FMU wins on Monday, the Night Hawks will need to win one of three at No. 1 Southeastern University next weekend in Lakeland, Fla. Friday the games start at 6:30 p.m., and Saturday's doubleheader begins at noon. 

Game One
Late-game heroics from USCB pushed the Sand Sharks past Thomas in the first game. The Night Hawks scored two in the third inning, then USCB cut the deficit in half in the top of the fourth. TU added three in the fourth and one in the sixth to go ahead, 6-1, but the Sand Sharks plated three in the seventh. TU scored one in the eighth, then USCB knocked in three in the ninth and a trio in the 10th to win, 10-7. 

Third baseman Landon Boyette was 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles, an RBI, a run scored, one stolen base and a drawn walk. Shortstop Chase Hinson connected on two hits and was hit by a pair of pitches while second baseman Luis Martinez was 2-for-4 with a triple and a walk. Left fielder Levi O'Steen connected on a solo home run for TU. 

Starter Chance Carter struck out four while allowing two runs from four hits and four walks in 6.1 innings, then Keyton Smith (2 ER, 3 H, 0.1 IP) and Clayton Faircloth (1 K, 3 ER, 3 H, 1.2 IP) came in for relief. Closer Caleb Rogers (2-2) took the loss, allowing three runs from three hits and a trio of walks in 1.2 innings. 

Game Two
Thomas scored two in the second inning, but USCB plated three in the fourth to take the lead. TU scored three more in the fourth, but the Sand Sharks answered again in the fifth with two more runs. The Night Hawks then plated four in the sixth and six in the seventh to take the win.

Hinson was 3-for-5 with a double and four RBI and right fielder Randy Heller had a pair of hits, including a two-run double. Catcher Jake Webb drew four walks and was 1-for-1 at the plate with an RBI. 

Patrick Haley pitched 5.0 innings, striking out two and allowing five runs from 10 hits and three walks, then Owen Simmons came in for 2.0 innings of scoreless relief, striking out two and allowing just two hits in his first appearance of the season.