THOMASVILLE, Ga. – The Thomas Night Hawks faced off against the Trinity Baptist Eagles in a midweek doubleheader on Tuesday night at Varnedoe Stadium.
The Night Hawks tallied nine hits and took an early lead with a run in the first inning.
Cameron Tyson sparked the offense, belting a solo home run to leadoff the game as part of a 1-for-2 day with two walks.
Gabe Tafelski led Thomas with three hits, including a double, while
Matthew Williams and
Seth Waltimyer each added key singles.
Trinity Baptist countered with a steady offensive attack, scoring in five of the seven innings played. The Eagles' bats were highlighted by a two-run fourth inning that proved to be the difference.
Thomas' pitching staff battled to keep the game close. Starter
Sawyer Smith went four innings, allowing three earned runs while striking out three. The bullpen held firm in relief, with
Nick Brady tossing two scoreless innings and
Sam Odiorne tossing a hitless third of an inning to give the Night Hawks a chance in the seventh.
Despite putting the tying run on base in the final frame, Thomas was unable to push across the equalizer, stranding 11 runners throughout the game.
In game two, Thomas controlled the game from the outset, steadily building their lead while the pitching staff turned in a historic performance. Starter
Jon Gavin Steptoe led the charge, striking out six over six innings, before
Brandon Steele closed out the game to complete the combined no-hitter.
The Night Hawks' offense was steady throughout, plating runs in five of their six offensive frames. Mike Sowers set the tone, going 2-for-2 with two doubles, an RBI, and a run scored. Tafelski added a triple and an RBI, while
Brayden Lawhon delivered a key run-scoring double.
Thomas put pressure on the Eagles all game, stealing six bases and capitalizing on two Trinity Baptist errors. Tyson reached base twice, scoring a run and swiping a bag, while
Tyler Marczak and
Elias Garcia each contributed an RBI.
The Night Hawks' defense was flawless behind their pitchers, turning a key double play and limiting Trinity Baptist's opportunities. The Eagles only managed just two baserunners via walks.
Thomas will look to carry their momentum into their next contest as they take on No.18 Faulkner at home on Friday, March 1st at 6:00 PM in a weekend series.
