THOMASVILLE, Ga. – The Thomas University baseball team struggled to maintain a rhythm Friday, as the Night Hawks dropped Game One to Florida National 7-3 before bouncing back Game Two to even the series with a 6-5 win at Varnedoe Stadium.
Game One (FNU 7, TU 3)
It was a historic moment for Florida National (2-19), as the Conquistadors bested Thomas (9-9, 0-6 SUN) for the first time in program history after nine overall games. Both TU and FNU tallied nine hits apiece, as three Night Hawks batted .500 or better. Freshman Left-Hander
Riley Fisher (2-3) pitched the first, four innings, allowing three earned runs in three hits with three strikeouts.
In the bottom of the first, the Green & White threatened to put the first runs of the contest on the board with men on second and third before two, straight putouts ended the inning.
FNU took advantage of TU's missed chance, spending the next four innings building a 5-0 lead, highlighted by Jasiel Perez's three RBIs. Thomas would finally see its first runs on the board in the bottom of the fifth, a two-run moon blast over the left wall courtesy of Redshirt Junior
Chandler Skelly to cut the deficit to three (5-2) before the Conquistadors would erase the Night Hawks' effort with two runs of their own to extend its lead back to five (7-2).
With one out and a runner on first in the bottom of the sixth, Freshman
Michael Sowers delivered his second triple of the season to bring home Sophomore
Luis Torres to bring FNU's lead down to four runs. One inning later, the Night Hawks had runners on first and second with one out and were poised for a late comeback before a grounder by Redshirt Senior
Brad Toxen set up a double-play dagger for the Conquistadors to preserve the team's 7-3 win.
Game Two (TU 6, FNU 5)
Thomas' struggle continued into the doubleheader's second contest, as the hung on to fend off Florida National. Freshman Right-Hander
Anthony Menendez (1-2) picked up his first collegiate win, allowing three earned runs in five hits while fanning six in the first five innings.
After another scoreless first inning, Florida National struck first in the second inning with a RBI double from Francisco Perez de Leon before Thomas responded with a big 2RBI single to center field from reserve Sophomore
Kason Buie to give the Night Hawks its first lead of the game. The Green & White followed up with another pair of scores in the third inning to extend the lead 4-1, as Freshman
Matthew Delay Jr. came home on a passed ball before Toxen's RBI single brought home Redshirt Junior
Anthony Dorak just two at-bats later. TU would push the lead out to its largest in the fourth inning (5-1) with a sacrifice fly that brought in Redshirt Freshman
Cameron Rosario.
Florida National would find a stride in the fifth, putting up a score before Freshman Redshirt Freshman
Zachary Buelk was called into the contest with no outs and runners on second and third. Even with the change on the mound, the Conquistadors would not bow down to the native of Wesley Chapel, Fla. as Perez and Onelio Perdomo posted a RBI apiece to cut TU's lead to 5-4.
After both teams exchanged a run, Florida National looked to tie the score in the top of the seventh, as Redshirt Junior
Andy Allison approached the mound to close. The Maitland, Fla. native shut down the Conquistadors' hitting attack in four batters to secure his first save of 2022 and the team's 6-5 victory.
TU by the Numbers
6: Pitchers used on the day
7: Runners left on base each game
9: Runs on the day
14: Strikeouts on the day
16: Hits on the day
The Night Hawks wrap up the series with a singleheader against FNU. First pitch at Varnedoe Stadium is set for Noon.THOMASVILLE, Ga. – The Thomas University baseball team struggled to maintain a rhythm Friday, as the Night Hawks dropped Game One to Florida National 7-3 before bouncing back Game Two to even the series with a 6-5 win at Varnedoe Stadium.
Game One (FNU 7, TU 3)
It was a historic moment for Florida National (2-19), as the Conquistadors bested Thomas (9-9, 0-6 SUN) for the first time in program history after nine overall games. Both TU and FNU tallied nine hits apiece, as three Night Hawks batted .500 or better. Freshman Left-Hander
Riley Fisher (2-3) pitched the first, four innings, allowing three earned runs in three hits with three strikeouts.
In the bottom of the first, the Green & White threatened to put the first runs of the contest on the board with men on second and third before two, straight putouts ended the inning.
FNU took advantage of TU's missed chance, spending the next four innings building a 5-0 lead, highlighted by Jasiel Perez's three RBIs. Thomas would finally see its first runs on the board in the bottom of the fifth, a two-run moon blast over the left wall courtesy of Redshirt Junior
Chandler Skelly to cut the deficit to three (5-2) before the Conquistadors would erase the Night Hawks' effort with two runs of their own to extend its lead back to five (7-2).
With one out and a runner on first in the bottom of the sixth, Freshman
Michael Sowers delivered his second triple of the season to bring home Sophomore
Luis Torres to bring FNU's lead down to four runs. One inning later, the Night Hawks had runners on first and second with one out and were poised for a late comeback before a grounder by Redshirt Senior
Brad Toxen set up a double-play dagger for the Conquistadors to preserve the team's 7-3 win.
Game Two (TU 6, FNU 5)
Thomas' struggle continued into the doubleheader's second contest, as the hung on to fend off Florida National. Freshman Right-Hander
Anthony Menendez (1-2) picked up his first collegiate win, allowing three earned runs in five hits while fanning six in the first five innings.
After another scoreless first inning, Florida National struck first in the second inning with a RBI double from Francisco Perez de Leon before Thomas responded with a big 2RBI single to center field from reserve Sophomore
Kason Buie to give the Night Hawks its first lead of the game. The Green & White followed up with another pair of scores in the third inning to extend the lead 4-1, as Freshman
Matthew Delay Jr. came home on a passed ball before Toxen's RBI single brought home Redshirt Junior
Anthony Dorak just two at-bats later. TU would push the lead out to its largest in the fourth inning (5-1) with a sacrifice fly that brought in Redshirt Freshman
Cameron Rosario.
Florida National would find a stride in the fifth, putting up a score before Freshman Redshirt Freshman
Zachary Buelk was called into the contest with no outs and runners on second and third. Even with the change on the mound, the Conquistadors would not bow down to the native of Wesley Chapel, Fla. as Perez and Onelio Perdomo posted a RBI apiece to cut TU's lead to 5-4.
After both teams exchanged a run, Florida National looked to tie the score in the top of the seventh, as Redshirt Junior
Andy Allison approached the mound to close. The Maitland, Fla. native shut down the Conquistadors' hitting attack in four batters to secure his first save of 2022 and the team's 6-5 victory.
TU by the Numbers
6: Pitchers used on the day
7: Runners left on base each game
9: Runs on the day
14: Strikeouts on the day
16: Hits on the day
The Night Hawks wrap up the series with a singleheader against FNU. First pitch at Varnedoe Stadium is set for Noon.
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.
