The Thomas University Night Hawks defeated the Black College Sports Network's #1 Non-division 1 baseball team, the Albany State Golden Rams of the NCAA Division II, in 11 innings on a
Max Pickert walk off single, with the bases loaded. For the Night Hawks, this is their second consecutive victory over an SIAC oppenent this season. The loss drops Albany State to 21-6 (19-1 SIAC) for the season, while Thomas improves to 15-22 (3-9 SUN), as they enter their Easter break.
Albany State jumped out early on Thomas, scoring one in the first inning and two in the second inning. The highlight of the early action for the Golden Rams was a Quintard Wright solo homerun in the second inning. After two innings, the Golden Rams led 3-0.
The Night Hawks slowly climbed back into the game beginning in the 3rd inning.
Michael Sowers scored on a
Kason Buie single. Then in the fifth inning,
Matthew Delay scored on a
Luis Rodriquez-Gallo single.
Bradley Fleenor drove in two runs, the next at bat, as
Cam Williams and Buie scored, giving the Night Hawks a 4-3 lead.
Albany State answered in their next plate appearance, scoring two runs in the top of the 6th inning. It took Thomas until the bottom of the 7th inning to answer, when Fleenor doubled in Pickert, tying the game at 5-5.
The game would remain tied until the 10th inning, when Nathan Lloyd's sacrifice fly would bring home Lavoisier Fisher, the give the Golden Rams, the lead once again. Thomas was not through. Delay would hit a big fly for the Night Hawks, with one out, to tie the game up once again at six each.
The Golden Rams would go down in order in the visitor's half of the 11th inning. Fleenor would lead off the home half of the 11th with a walk. After a
Gabe Tafelski sacrifice bunt,
Josh Johnson would collect a single, setting up a first-and-third situation. Sowers would draw a walk to load the bases.
Max Pickert stepped to the plate and singled to left-center, for the walk off victory for the Night Hawks. Pickert was mobbed after he touched first base by his teammates.
The Night Hawks will next be in action on Tuesday, April 11, as they take on Trinity Baptist, at Varnedoe field, for a doubleheader, that begins at 4pm. For updated game times, live stats, and broadcast information, follow Thomas Baseball at
https://tunighthawks.com/sports/baseball. For complete coverage of Night Hawks Athletics, please visit
www.tunighthawks.com to stay updated with the latest news, scores, game previews and recaps. Follow the Night Hawks on social media at @TU_Night_Hawks (Twitter), @tunighthawks (Instagram), and @thomasuniversityathletics (Facebook).
