THOMASVILLE, Ga. – The Thomas University baseball team was on the brink of breaking the game open in the final inning to set up a potential walk-off situation, but a costly lineout-turned double play swiftly ended the Night Hawks' late comeback bid, falling to Indiana Tech 5-2 Sunday afternoon at Varnedoe Stadium.
 
TU (13-11, 0-6 SUN) finished the day with more hits than IT (9-9), outhitting the Warriors nine hits to eight.  Sophomore Turner Maddox had another spectacular day at the dish, batting .600 and registering both Thomas' RBI.  Despite the score line, Freshman Right-Hander Dustin Letchworth (2-2) allowed no earned runs in seven hits while fanning eight in seven, full innings pitched.
 
After the Warriors struck first with a RBI triple in the opening inning, the Green & White appeared to have IT in check until the leadoff hit to begin the third, as IT's Parker Bates delivered a double to centerfield before an error by Freshman Khadin Bastian allowed the Sophomore to round third and head home to give the Orange & Black a 2-0 lead.  One inning later, the Warriors took advantage of another Night Hawks' miscue, as an Ashton Moxey right-side hit rolled past the outfield to allow a runner to score and extend Indiana Tech's lead to 3-0.
 
Once again, Thomas was unable to capitalize on scoring chances until late in the contest, as the Night Hawks registered runs in the bottom of the seventh inning.  Redshirt Junior Bradley Fleenor set the tone with a leadoff single before a fielder's choice and a double from Freshman Michael Sowers put runners on second and third with one out.  Following Redshirt Junior Anthony Dorak's strikeout, Maddox followed up with a 2RBI double to cut the Warriors' lead (3-2).  TU was on the verge of tying the ball game after a passed ball sent Maddox to third, but a flyout on the next at-bat ended the inning with the Night Hawks trailing by one run.
 
Indiana Tech would make up for the runs allowed by adding their own pair of runs in the eighth to push its lead back out to three runs (5-2).
 
With one out in the bottom of the ninth, TU found a way to put runners on base, beginning with an error from IT pitcher Ryan Uhlenhake that allowed Sophomore Luis Torres to reach first.  Another Sowers double, paired with a walk from Freshman Dylan Schatzel, loaded the bases to give Thomas a golden opportunity to add crucial runs to the board.  With Maddox on deck, the native of Thomaston, Ga. looked to strike big for what would have been his fourth hit of the day before lining out to shortstop and setting up a double-play dagger that saved the Warriors and its 5-2 win.
 
TU by the Numbers
0:        Earned runs allowed by Dustin Letchworth
2:        Runs scored
4:        Batters hitting .500 or better
6:        Baby Hawk starters
8:        Left on base
9:        Total strikeouts by pitching staff
 
Thomas remains in the state of Georgia for its next outing, travelling to South Georgia to face NCAA DII opponent Valdosta State for an exhibition contest.  First pitch is set for 5 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.