THOMASVILLE, Ga. — The Thomas University baseball team delivered a complete performance on Friday afternoon, defeating Georgetown College 11–0 behind a dominant outing from redshirt sophomore pitcher Ian Vickers.
The right-hander was outstanding from start to finish, throwing a complete-game three-hit shutout with 12 strikeouts, tying him for the 10th-most punchouts in a single game in program history. The Folkston, Georgia native faced just 27 batters, issued three walks, and allowed no runs while improving his season strikeout total to 34, ranking No. 2 in the NAIA and No. 1 in the SSAC
After a scoreless first inning, the Night Hawks broke the game open with an eight-run second inning. Braeden Callahan began the rally with a single, followed by a double down the left-field line from Jackson Thomas to place two runners in scoring position. Nate Slaughter knocked in the first run with an RBI single to left, making it 1–0. Elias Garcia was then hit by a pitch to load the bases, setting up a two-run double to shortstop by Seth Waltimyer to extend the lead to 3–0.
Brayden Lawhon added an RBI single up the middle, scoring Garcia, before Jaylen Roque drove in Waltimyer with a single through the left side. Gabe Tafelski followed with an RBI single to score Lawhon, and after stealing second, he came home on another Callahan RBI single to push the lead to 7–0. Jackson Thomas capped the inning with a run-scoring single to left, making it 8–0 after two innings.
Thomas added to its advantage in the third inning when Max Pickert singled up the middle and advanced on a throwing error, allowing Lawhon to score. Slaughter added a solo home run to left field in the fourth inning to extend the lead to 10–0, his first career home run. The Night Hawks finished their scoring in the sixth inning when Pickert singled, Tafelski walked, and Teiresias Jones Jr. singled to load the bases before Thomas lifted a sacrifice fly to center field, bringing home Pickert for the final run of the game.The Night Hawks recorded 15 hits in the win, with multi-hit efforts from Callahan, Thomas, Pickert, Roque, and Tafelski. Waltimyer drove in two runs, while Lawhon, Roque, and Slaughter also added RBIs
Vickers' final stat line was one of the best by a Thomas pitcher in recent memory: 7.0 innings pitched, three hits allowed, no runs, three walks, and 12 strikeouts on 108 pitches. The shutout marked his first complete game and win of the season.
Thomas will continue its homestand this weekend as the Night Hawks aim to build on Friday's momentum.
