BABSON PARK, Fla. – Thomas University head baseball coach
Tom Fleenor earned his 400th career victory Saturday as the Night Hawks defeated No. 16 Webber International University, 3-2 in the first game of a Sun Conference doubleheader.
TU went on to win the second game of the day, 1-0, to take two of three games in the series. The Night Hawks are now 9-13 overall and 2-4 in the league.
In three games against nationally ranked WIU, TU pitchers struck out 32 Warrior batters.
Fleenor is in his 13th season as a head coach and first at the helm of Thomas University.
Next weekend Thomas hosts a three-game non-conference homestand with No. 9 Indiana Tech. The games begin Saturday at 1 p.m., then Sunday at noon at Varnedoe Stadium.
Game One
With two outs in the top of the second,
Christian Sweat was hit by a pitch, then advanced to second on an error. He moved to third after
Ethan Krizen drew a walk then
Alex Mitchell hit an infield single. A wild pitch plated TU's first run of the game.
Thomas took the 2-0 lead in the fourth after
Raines Plant drew a leadoff walk, then Sweat put down a bunt for a base hit. Krizen's sac bunt moved the runners, then Plant scored on Mitchell's sac fly to right.
WIU scored one in the bottom of the sixth, to cut the lead in half.
Thomas answered with one run in the eighth after
Maury Gonzalez reached on a fielding error, then scored on a double down the right field line by
Jake Bryan.
WIU added one run in the bottom of the frame, but Thomas' defense held the tying run on third and took the 3-2 win.
Starting pitcher
Thomas Sorrentino earned the win, striking out eight while allowing one run from three hits in 7.0 innings.
Hassan Westbrook picked up the save with two strikeouts and one run from one hit and two walks in 2.0 innings.
At the plate, Mitchell was 2-for-2 with an RBI and a drawn walk while
Brad Toxen and Bryan each tagged a double.
Game Two
Thomas tagged eight hits and allowed just two in the Night Hawks' second win of the day.
After five scoreless innings, Toxen doubled to left field in the top of the sixth, then Gonzalez doubled up the middle to score the lone run of the game.
TU's pitchers were on fire again, combining to strike out nine Warriors. Starter
Caleb Rogers earned the win, pitching 7.1 innings and striking out eight. He allowed just two hits in the shutout.
Dillon Rutland earned the save, striking out one in 1.2 innings.
Gonzalez had a double, base hit and one RBI to lead TU offensively.
