LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. – The Thomas Night Hawks finished up their weekend in Lawrenceville with a split between Lindsey Wilson and #4 Georgia Gwinnett on Saturday.
THOMAS 7 LINDSEY WILSON 4
A fast start and timely hitting helped The Thomas Night Hawks earn a 7-4 win over the Lindsey Wilson Blue Raiders on Saturday morning
Thomas struck early, scoring a run in the first before putting up a three-run second inning to take control. Leadoff hitter Elias Garcia set the tone, going 3-for-3 with two RBIs and three stolen bases, while Riley Borgert and Max Pickert each added key run-producing hits.
The Night Hawks kept the pressure on in the fourth, scoring three more runs to build a 7-3 lead. Garcia delivered again with an RBI single, and Pickert knocked in another run as Thomas capitalized on defensive miscues by Lindsey Wilson
On the mound, starter Eddie Camolila worked around early trouble, before being relived by Chase Marsh in the second and then Jaxon Smith came in and held strong, striking out four over three innings. Matthew Demetree relived Smith in the top half of the Sixth, striking out a couple of batters until Brandon Steele closed out the game.
Lindsey Wilson managed six hits but struggled to capitalize with runners on base, stranding 10. Andres Duran provided the Blue Raiders' biggest highlight with a two-run homer in the third, but it wasn't enough to overcome Thomas' steady offense.
THOMAS 6 #4 GEORGIA GWINNETT 12
Despite a strong fourth-inning rally, Thomas University could not overcome an early deficit, falling to #4 Georgia Gwinnett on Saturday evening
Georgia Gwinnett stormed out to a commanding lead with a 10-run first inning, capitalizing on timely hitting and defensive miscues by Thomas. The Night Hawks, however, did not go down quietly, responding with a five-run fourth inning to cut the deficit to 10-6.
JT Whatley delivered a key two-run double, while Max Pickert and Aidan Reyes each added RBI hits in the rally. Elias Garcia and Michael Sowers contributed multi-hit performances to pace the Thomas offense, which collected 12 hits on the night.
On the mound, Thomas starter Jon Gavin Steptoe struggled against the Grizzlies' potent lineup, lasting just two-thirds of an inning. Reliever Sawyer Smith settled things down, tossing 5.1 solid innings while allowing just one earned run and striking out five.
Georgia Gwinnett tacked on insurance runs in the fourth and eighth innings to secure the victory. The Grizzlies' pitching staff held Thomas scoreless after the fourth, with Shane Anderson leading the way with six strikeouts over three innings.
The Night Hawks will look to bounce back at home on Tuesday, March 11th as they take on Middle Georgia State in a non-conference game at 4:00PM
