WEST POINT, Ga. — The Night Hawks split the spoils against Point on Saturday falling in game one and taking game two.
Game 1: Thomas 8, Point 13
In game one, the Night Hawks fell to Point University 13-8 in a contest that featured a flurry of runs. Point jumped ahead early, scoring three runs in the first inning.
The Night Hawks responded in the second inning with a pair of runs.
Lucas Dufresne walked, moved up on
Max Pickert's double, and scored on
Carson Thomas' groundout. Pickert then crossed home on a wild pitch, bringing the score to 3-2 in the top of the second. The Skyhawks tacked on a run in the bottom of the second to put their advantage up to four.
In the fourth inning, Thomas narrowed the gap by plating three runs. Dufresne singled and scored on Thomas' (C.) two-RBI single, followed by
Nathaniel Slaughter's RBI double. However, Point countered with a run of their own, maintaining a slim lead at 6-5 after four innings.
The fifth inning proved pivotal as Point erupted with seven runs, capitalizing on multiple walks and a two-RBI single by pushing the score to Point 13, Night Hawks 5.
The Night Hawks fought back, adding three runs in the seventh inning.
Elias Garcia singled, followed by
Seth Waltimyer's double. RBI singles from
Brayden Lawhon, Dufresne, and
Drew Clayton tightened the gap, but the final score remained Point 13, Night Hawks 8.
On the mound for the Night Hawks,
Ian Vickers pitched four innings,
Tyler Marczak provided relief, pitching two innings with four strikeouts, allowing just two runs on three hits.
Waltimyer led the offense with two doubles and a run, collecting two hits. Dufresne crossed the plate twice, tallying two hits and an RBI. Thomas (C.) drove in three runs, adding a hit and a walk.
Game 2: Thomas 16, Point 5
In game two, the Night Hawks soared to a dominant 16-5 victory over Point University. They unleashed a relentless offense, racking up 20 hits, including a game-changing home run.
Thomas wasted no time, scoring three runs in the first inning.
Elias Garcia got things rolling with a single, followed by hits from
Seth Waltimyer and
Brayden Lawhon.
Lucas Dufresne delivered a clutch two-RBI single, bringing in Garcia and Waltimyer, while
Max Pickert's fielder's choice sent Lawhon home. Point managed to get one run in their half, leaving the Night Hawks with a 3-1 lead after the first.
By the third inning, the score was tied at four apiece.
Gabe Tafelski doubled, and
Jackson Thomas drove him in with a sharp single to left.
The fifth inning was all Night Hawks, as they launched a five-run blitz. Thomas (J.) smashed a three-run homer, scoring Tafelski and Thomas (C.). Lawhon contributed with an RBI single, driving in Marczak. By the end of the fifth, the Night Hawks led 9-4.
Thomas continued to build their lead in the seventh, adding two unearned runs. Waltimyer doubled and scored on a throwing error, while Lawhon came home on a wild pitch, extending the lead to 11-4.
The eighth inning saw the Night Hawks continue their onslaught with five more runs. Marczak's double brought in Thomas (J.), and Lawhon's double added two more. A sac fly by Pickert allowed Teiresias Jones, pinch-running for Lawhon, to score, ballooning the score to 16-5 by the end of the eighth.
On the mound,
Zach Buelk started for the Night Hawks, pitching 1.1 innings.
Charlie Eidelman struck out one in 0.2 of an inning without allowing a hit, while
Dustin Letchworth provided a steady hand, pitching four hitless innings, striking out four.
Waltimyer shined with four hits, including a double, and scored three times. Lawhon was crucial with four hits, three RBIs, and two runs.
Jackson Thomas blasted a home run, driving in four and scoring twice, while Tafelski contributed with three hits, an RBI, and two runs.
Next up, the Night Hawks will host Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College at 1 p.m. on Friday, March 20, at Varnedoe Stadium in Thomasville, Georgia.
