THOMASVILLE, Ga. – The Thomas University baseball team struggled to overcome its The Sun Conference rival, dropping both games to Receiving Votes (RV) Webber International 10-4 in Game One and 11-9 in Game Two Saturday evening at Varnedoe Stadium.
 
Game One Recap (RV WIU 10, TU 4)
The Night Hawks (3-10, 0-6 TSC) connected on as many hits as recorded errors (8).  Pitcher John Steward (0-1) allowed four runs off seven hits in four and one-third innings.
 
WIU (12-7, 7-2 TSC) leadoff hitter Norberto Navarro initially reached base on an error.  On the next at-bat, an unsuccessful pickoff attempt allowed Navarro to advance to third base, setting up the unearned run that gave the Warriors a 1-0 lead.
 
The Night Hawks quickly responded in the bottom of the first, as a leadoff single and stolen base from Redshirt Junior Victor Terrero set up Redshirt Sophomore Raines Plant for the game-tying RBI single (1-1).  The Hunter Green & White would take its first lead on the next at-bat, as Redshirt Junior Brad Toxen hit a two-run home run to go up 3-1.
 
TU's lead would be temporary, as Webber capitalized off another Night Hawk error to tie the game at three runs apiece.  A sacrifice RBI on the next at-bat would give the Warriors the lead again (4-3).
 
WIU tacked on two more runs (6-3) in the top of the fifth from a 2RBI single from Dominique Collie Jr.
 
The Hunter Green & White responded in the bottom of the sixth, as Redshirt Junior Rodwell Munoz hit a triple, paving the way for an RBI single by Redshirt Sophomore Bradley Fleenor to cut the deficit to two runs.
 
Webber would go on to score the contest's final four runs to seal another conference win.
 
Game Two Recap (RV WIU 11, TU 9)
The Night Hawks finished with the same amount of hits as runs scored.  Redshirt Senior Holden Alexander started the game for TU, giving up five runs in eight runs while recording five strikeouts in four and two-third innings pitched.
 
After back-to-back strikeouts to start the top of the second inning, Webber's Victor Florentino singled to centerfield, followed by a two-run home run to once again give Webber the first lead. 
 
Both teams would trade home runs in the third, as a solo blast extended the Warriors' lead but a second 2RBI home run by Toxen narrowed the gap (3-2).
Thomas would then close the gap and take its first lead in the third, scoring three runs through base hits and walks.
 
Webber recovered in the fifth inning, tying the contest 5-5 with RBIs from Collie Jr. and Luis Acevedo.  One inning later, WIU retook the lead off after a triple from Navarro set up a Warriors' score via passed ball.
 
After another run gave Webber a 7-5 lead, the Night Hawks' hitting lineup tied the game (7-7) again after a pitching error sent home Munoz and Freshman Luis Torres.  Fellow Freshman Jayson Zmejkoski provided another spark for the Hunter Green & White, giving the team a second lead (9-7) with a 2RBI double.
 
In the eighth inning, the Warriors took the lead back, scoring three runs to hold a slim 10-9 lead over the Night Hawks.
 
After WIU tacked on another run in the ninth (11-9) and made two outs, a base hit from Redshirt Junior Tyler Keaton and walk from Redshirt Freshman Jacob Paterson set up a potential Night Hawk scoring run, but one final strikeout would seal a Webber sweep of Thomas.
 
TU by the Numbers
3:          Brad Toxen Home Runs in the series
9:          Total Strikeouts on the day
13:        Total Runs Scored on the day
17:        Total Hits on the day
 
Thomas resumes action in the outfield Wednesday, as the team will host a non-conference doubleheader series against Florida National.  First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.
 
For up-to-date information on this game and other TU Athletics, visit www.TUNightHawks.com.  Stay up-to-date with news, scores, photos, game summaries, and feature stories of your TU baseball team by following them via Twitter at @NightHawkBaseba.