JACKSON, Tenn. – The Thomas Night Hawks came out swinging with a four-run first inning and tallied 16 hits overall, but a big middle-inning rally from the ABAC Stallions proved too much to overcome as the Night Hawks fell in the SSAC Baseball Championship Tournament.

The fourth game in five days between the two started fast as The Night Hawks jumped ahead early thanks to four straight hits, as Senior Cameron Tyson led Thomas with a perfect 4-for-4 day at the plate, including a solo home run and a double, driving in one and scoring twice. The Night Hawks jumped ahead early, capitalizing on aggressive baserunning and timely hits, including a two-run single from Michael Sowers and an RBI double from Aidan Reyes.

However, Thomas' 4-1 lead quickly evaporated in the third and fourth innings as ABAC erupted for six runs behind a pair of RBI doubles and a solo shot from Joe Cooney off starter AJ Wydra, who was tagged for seven runs on eight hits in just 3.2 innings.

Despite RBI contributions from five different players and late-inning efforts by relievers Ryan Chapman, Nick Brady, and Ashton O'Quinn to keep the Golden Stallions in check, the early damage proved decisive. Thomas clawed back with runs in the fourth, sixth, and eighth innings, including a triple from Reyes and an RBI from Elias Garcia, but the rally fell short.

Thomas stranded eight runners and committed three errors, one of which extended a key inning during Abraham Baldwin's four-run fourth.

The loss puts Thomas in a tough situation as they need a win tomorrow against #2 seed Loyola to stay alive in pool play for the SSAC tournament. The Night Hawks will take on the Wolfpack at 11:00AM EST / 10:00AM CST.