HARDEEVILLE, S.C. – The Thomas University baseball team found a hitting rhythm Friday evening, but the Night Hawks' struggle to convert hits into scoring chances would cost them the game, falling 13-4 to USC-Beaufort at Richard Gray Sports Complex.
 
While the Sand Sharks (22-21, 9-10 SUN) were fueled by a pair of home runs, TU (16-25, 0-16 SUN) outhit USCB 13-12 on the day.  Redshirt Junior Anthony Dorak built on his impressive week of hitting, going 3-for-4 in the batter's box.  Freshman Jose Class Jr. was perfect at the plate for the first time in his collegiate career, hitting 3-for-3. 
 
Freshman Right-Hander Dustin Letchworth (2-5) pitched 4.1 innings and allowed seven earned runs off eight hits with four strikeouts.
 
Thomas drew first blood in the second inning, as a hit from Freshman Khadin Bastian, paired with a deep hit from Class, led to a fielder's choice RBI from Sophomore Luis Torres that gave TU a 1-0 lead.
 
After USCB responded with nine unanswered runs, the Green & White tallied three runs in the top of the seventh.  After Class paved the way with a leadoff single, Sophomore Kason Buie checked in to the game to pinch run.  A wild pitch, paired with a RBI single, brought home the Brunswick, Ga. native for the Night Hawks' second run.  Freshman Matthew Delay Jr. delivered on a RBI single of his own to cut the Sand Sharks' lead to six runs (9-3) before USCB's lone error of the day on the next at-bat gave Thomas its final run of the game.
 
USC-Beaufort went on to score the contest's final four runs to take a Game One victory 13-4.
 
TU by the Numbers
4:        Runs scored
5:        Batters hitting .400 or better on the day
7:        Left on base
9:        Consecutive games with a Matthew Delay hit
13:      Hits
18:      Games with 10+ hits on the season
149:    Pitches thrown
 
Thomas will conclude the series Saturday with a doubleheader against USC-Beaufort.  First pitch is set for Noon.
 
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