THOMASVILLE, GA  |  The Thomas University Night Hawks (26-22, 12-17 SSAC) kicked off game one of a double header on Friday afternoon as the University of Mobile (16-17, 14-12 SSAC) came into town for the final conference series of the year.

GAME ONE - THOMAS 12, MOBILE 2

In the bottom of the first inning, the Night Hawks struck first as Riley Borgert belted a one out homerun over the left field wall to bring the score to 1-0. The Rams answered in the top of the second inning, as a sacrifice fly ball scored the runner from third base to knot the score at 1-1.
 
Thomas University capitalized on the momentum from the first inning, scoring six runs in the bottom of the second. Matthew Williams and Gabe Tafelski started the rally with consecutive singles, followed by a single from Seth Waltimyer to drive in a run. A walk to Kason Buie loaded the bases, and Borgert worked another walk to score a run. JT Whatley worked the third walk of the inning, followed by Max Pickert's two-run single, stealing second base afterward, while a wild pitch allowed another run to score. Mike Sowers capped off the inning with an RBI double, extending the Night Hawks' lead to 7-1.
 
The Rams added another run in the top of the fourth inning to cut the lead to 7-2. TU responded quickly in the bottom of the fourth as JT Whatley kicked off the bottom of the frame with a double to center field, Sowers advanced to first after being hit by a pitch, Williams loaded the bases with a shallow single to left field and Tafelski followed with a hard ground ball to left field to score Whatley and extend the lead back to six, 8-2.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, Whatley led off with a double to center field, followed by Sowers being hit by a pitch to reach first base. Williams then loaded the bases with a shallow single to left field, and Tafelski drove in a run with a hard ground ball to left, extending the Night Hawks lead to 8-2.
 
The Night Hawks continued to see the ball well in the bottom of the fifth inning as three runs crossed the plate, Buie started with a hit by pitch and stole second, setting up a Borgert walk. Pickert singled to right field and scored Buie, extending the lead to 9-2. JT Whatley grounded into a double play but brought home Borgert for a 10-2 lead. Jeremy Santiago drew a four-pitch walk, followed by Williams single, set up a Tafelski RBI single to left, making it 11-2 for the Night Hawks. TU scored once more on a fielding error, allowing Buie to cross home plate from third base, making the score 12-2.
 
Freshman Tanner Reed pitched 7.0 innings, allowing two runs, on four hits, two walks, and four strikeouts.  Gabe Tafelski went 4-for-4 with four singles and two RBI's.  Max Pickert went 2-for-5 with a single, double, and four RBI's.

GAME TWO - THOMAS 11, MOBILE 6

 In the second game of the doubleheader, the Rams took an early lead by scoring three runs in the top of the first inning, highlighted by a long home run to left field. The Night Hawks mounted a comeback, scoring three runs to tie the game. JT Whatley sparked the rally with a second-pitch home run over the left field wall. Turner Maddox followed with a one-out single to center field, and Gabe Tafelski hit a line drive double down the left field line to advance the runners to second and third base. Easton Willis then hit a hard ground ball to second base, scoring Maddox. An errant throw to first base allowed Tafelski to score, knotting the game at 3-3.
 
The Night Hawks continued their momentum in the bottom of the third inning when Kason Buie smashed a home run over the left field wall, giving them a 4-3 lead. In the bottom of the fourth inning, Tafelski led off with a home run to left field, extending the lead to 5-3. Cameron Rosario then singled to right field, followed by a four-pitch walk to Buie. Riley Borgert hit a hard ground ball to right field, scoring Rosario and stretching the lead to 6-3. Max Pickert's fielder's choice brought Buie home from third base, increasing the lead to 7-3.
 
In the bottom of the sixth inning, TU continued to add on runs as three more runs crossed the plate. Hunter Kern and Buie hit consecutive singles to start off the inning, Pickert loaded the bases with one out after being hit by a pitch, and Jean Pool Checo drove in two runs with a double to right field to extend the lead to 9-3 with runners on second and third with only one out. A balk scored Pickert and moved Checo to third base, extending the lead to 10-3. The Rams scored a trio of runs in the top of the seventh inning to tighten the score at 10-6. TU tagged on one last run in the bottom of the eighth inning from a Tafelski single into right field to score Trey Larkin and help cement the win 11-6 and clinch the series.
 
Jaxon Smith earned the win for the Night Hawks, pitching 3.2 innings, allowing no runs, two hits, and one strikeout.  JT Whatley went 3-for-5 on the day with a single, double, and a home run to drive in two runs.

The series concludes on Saturday, as the Night Hawks go for the sweep on senior day.  First pitch is set for 1pm at Varnedoe Stadium.  For up-to-date information on awards 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.