THOMASVILLE, Ga. — The Thomas University Night Hawks (11-10, 4-2 SSAC) had a stellar afternoon at Varnedoe Stadium, clinching two victories over the University of Mobile Rams on Saturday. In the first game, the Night Hawks oared to a commanding 6-1 triumph, highlighted by an impressive offensive display. In the second game,Thomas fought to a nail-biting 6-5 win, thanks to a pivotal four-run third inning to sweep their first conference home series of the season.
Game 1: Thomas 6, Mobile 1
In the first game, the Night Hawks took flight early, seizing a 1-0 lead in the second inning.
Gabe Tafelski singled, dashed to third on
Nathaniel Slaughter's infield hit, and crossed home on
Carson Thomas's groundout. The fourth inning was a game-changer.
Jackson Thomas and
Elias Garcia both reached base with singles, setting the table for
Lucas Dufresne, who drove in
Jackson Thomas.
Aidan Reyes then smashed a double down the right side, bringing in two more runs.
Gabe Tafelski chipped in with an RBI single, pushing the lead to 5-0 by inning's end. The fifth inning saw
Elias Garcia score on
Seth Waltimyer's double to center, stretching the lead to 6-0.
Mobile's lone run came in the sixth inning via Ethan Plank's sacrifice fly, but the Night Hawks remained in control. The final tally was 6-1, firmly in favor of the Night Hawks.
Ian Vickers delivered a standout performance on the mound, pitching 5.1 innings, allowing just two hits and one earned run. Vickers fanned seven batters, issued five walks, and maintained a WHIP of 1.37. He threw 103 pitches, with 59 strikes, deftly navigating the Rams' lineup.
Nate Burnsed came in for stellar relief, pitching 1.2 innings without a hit, striking out two, and achieving a flawless WHIP of 0.00.
Elias Garcia scored twice, reaching base twice with a hit and a walk.
Gabe Tafelski recorded three hits, an RBI, a run, and a stolen base.
Aidan Reyes contributed a double, two RBIs, and a run.
Game 2: Thomas 6, Mobile 5
Mobile jumped ahead early with a three-run second inning. Trevor Murphy scored on a fielder's choice, Colton Wood crossed home on a throwing error, and Tyler Wabnitz was hit by a pitch to score. Mobile led 3-0 after two innings. The Night Hawks answered back in the third with a four-run surge.
Connor Hutto scored on
Drew Clayton's RBI single, and
Max Pickert followed suit on
Seth Waltimyer's RBI single. Garcia and Clayton scored on
Brayden Lawhon's clutch double, knotting the game at 4-4 through three innings.
Thomas reclaimed the lead in the fifth when
Aidan Reyes scored off Pickert's RBI single, nudging the Night Hawks ahead 5-4. In the sixth, Thomas added insurance as Teiresias Jones, pinch running for Lawhon, scored on a fielder's choice, stretching the lead to 6-4. Mobile tightened the score in the seventh with Weston Tubbs scoring an unearned run after reaching on an error, but the Night Hawks held firm with a 6-5 lead through seven innings. With neither team scoring in the final frames, Thomas sealed the 6-5 victory over Mobile.
Michael Surane started, going 1.2 innings with three earned runs on one hit and three walks, striking out two.
Reece Holloway appeared in relief for his first collegiate start to close out the second inning.
Dustin Letchworth steadied the ship from the bullpen, throwing four innings with one earned run, three hits, three walks, and one strikeout.
Sawyer Smith closed with three scoreless innings, allowing just one hit, three walks, and striking out three while protecting a one run lead.
Offensively, Lawhon was instrumental with two hits and two RBIs, including a crucial double. Pickert racked up three hits, an RBI, and a run scored, while Clayton added two hits, an RBI, and a walk to the Night Hawks' effort.
The Night Hawks now stand at 11-10 overall and 4-2 in conference play tied for second in the conference standings with Blue Mountain Christian.
The Night Hawks are set to travel to West Point, Ga. to face Point University in conference matchup on Friday, at 5:00 PM EST.
