THOMASVILLE, Ga. – With the bases loaded in the top of the ninth, the Thomas University baseball team was one out shy of sweeping USC-Beaufort, but a Nick Milhan hit broke down the Night Hawks' outfield and saw three runs score to complete a ninth-inning collapse that saw the Sand Sharks score six runs and ultimately steal a 13-12 win from Thomas Saturday afternoon at Varnedoe Stadium.
 
The Night Hawks (17-19, 6-9 TSC) tallied 11 hits and three errors in what proved to be quite a barnburner for a The Sun Conference game.  Freshman John Steward got the starting nod for TU, but was pulled for Freshman Bobby Jacobs after USCB (19-14, 6-9 TSC) jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the second inning.
 
Despite the early deficit, the Hunter Green & White got to work in the bottom of the third, loading the bases in the first three at-bats before a walk from Redshirt Sophomore Raines Plant put the Night Hawks on the score board (6-1).  With the bases still loaded two batters later, the Sand Sharks elected to make the putout at first, allowing Freshman Jayson Zmejkoski to score TU's second run of the day.
 
After USC-Beaufort added another run to bring the lead back out to five runs (7-2), Thomas added another two runs in the fourth to cut the scoring deficit to three runs.
 
TU began the bottom of the fifth inning with back-to-back walks, which was cause for the Sand Sharks to make a change at the mound.  Freshman Andy Valdes took advantage of the new pitcher on the next at-bat, delivering a pivotal three-run homer to tie the game 7-7.
 
The Night Hawks would take its first lead of the contest in the seventh inning, as Redshirt Sophomore Bradley Fleenor capitalized with a 2RBI double to give TU a 9-7 advantage.  After another pitching chance by USCB, the Hunter Green & White would extend its lead to four (11-7) off a RBI by Plant and a wild pitch.
 
Redshirt Sophomore Andy Allison (2-3) entered the game in the eighth inning and made the Sand Sharks go 1-2-3 at the plate.
 
Thomas was in position to seal the potential sweep in the ninth, but the Sand Sharks loaded the bases before the first out was made.  USCB cashed in on back-to-back walks to cut Thomas' lead 11-9, which was enough to switch up pitchers, bring in Redshirt Senior Jorge Meran.  Immediately, the Bronx, N.Y. native struck out his first batter faced, appearing to be on the way for his fourth save of the season.
 
With two down in the top of the ninth, the game took a turn for the worse, as multiple errors on a Nick Milhan hit gave the lead back to the Sand Sharks 13-11.
 
Heading the bottom of the ninth, TU still had a chance to win the game down by two runs.  USC-Beaufort put away the first two batters, but Redshirt Junior Brad Toxen kept Night Hawk nation's hopes alive with a solo blast out of the park to trail within one run (13-12).  Freshman Turner Maddox would walk on the next at-bat, putting the game-tying run on first with the hot-hitting Valdes on deck.  This time, however, the Sand Sharks prevented the Miami, Fla. native from a second, clutch hit, as USCB made the putout at second to preserve a 13-12 win.
 
TU by the Numbers:
2:          Home Runs
6:          Batters recording RBIs
7:          Home Runs by Brad Toxen this season
9:          Freshmen that played
10:        RBIs
11:        Hits
12:        Total Runners Left on Base and Runs Scored
25:        Combined Runs Scored between Thomas and USC-Beaufort
 
The Night Hawks will hit the road for a non-conference matchup against #11 Middle Georgia Tuesday.  First pitch is set for 3 p.m.
 
For up-to-date information on this series 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 @NightHawksBaseba.