JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Night Hawks earned the season sweep over the Tigers and extended their win streak to eight with a 10-9 win over Edward Waters Tuesday evening.
The Tigers opened the scoring with a run in the bottom of the first after a pair of singles and a stolen base allowed a runner to cross home plate. The Night Hawks answered in their half of the second when
Max Pickert walked and
Gabe Tafelski hit a single to the pitcher to advance Pickert to third. Tafelski stole second to put two runners in scoring position for
Nathaniel Slaughter before the catcher hit a single to right field to plate two and give Thomas the lead 2-1 in the second.
The Night Hawks continued their momentum into the third inning.
Noah Smith led off the inning with a single to third then
Carson Thomas followed with another single.
Lucas Dufresne reached on a misplay by the shortstop to load the bases. Pickert drove in Smith with a single and kept the bases loaded. Tafelski hit his second homerun of the season this time of the grand slam variety to give the Night Hawks a six run advantage in the third 7-1.
Edward Waters answered with a pair of runs in the fourth to cut their deficit to four. The Tigers hit a two run homer in the sixth to bring themselves within two runs 7-5.
In the top of the seventh
Max Pickert hit a single to right field and swiped second. Tafelski drew a walk and
Jackson Thomas reached on an error by the centerfielder to load the bases. Slaughter hit a fly ball to center to score Pickert and bring the score to 8-5.
Elias Garcia hit a single to third to load the bases once again before
Seth Waltimyer hit a single to left to drive in Tafelski to cap the scoring in the frame with a score of 9-5.
In the bottom of the seventh Edward Waters scored three runs from two free passes and a pair of singles to bring the score to 9-8. The Tigers managed to tie the game in the eighth at nine runs apiece.
In the top of the ninth Tafelski hit a single followed by Slaughter continuing his hitting streak in the game.
Elias Garcia drove in Tafelski for the go ahead run to finish the game 10-9.
Slaughter led the team going perfect at the plate with four hits and three RBIs. Tafelski had three hits, four RBIs, a grand-slam homer, four runs and a walk. Pickert tallied two hits, three runs and an RBI. Garcia had three hits, an RBI and a walk on the day. Waltimyer added a hit and an RBI in the effort.
Christian Maige started the game and threw three innings of work with three strikeouts.
Reece Holloway threw 1 2/3 innings of shutout ball only allowing two baserunners.
Ryan Chapman contributed an inning in the effort with one strikeout. Tyler Marzak threw an inning of relief allowing no earned runs.
Charlie Eidelman pitched an inning in the eighth and worked in a tie ball game as the pitcher of decision to earn the win.
Nate Burnsed closed the game with an inning of shutout ball only allowing a hit and striking out two in his outing to get his first save of the season.
The Night Hawks (21-16, 12-6 SSAC) travel to Pulaski, Tenn. to face UT Southern in on Friday at 1:00 PM CST in an SSAC doubleheader.
