NAIA
Sweet Victory! Night Hawks Take Two over Trinity Baptist
THOMASVILLE, Ga. – The Thomas University baseball team's efforts paid off Wednesday, as the Night Hawks picked up a pair of wins over Trinity Baptist College (7-2 in Game One and 6-3 in Game Two) at Varnedoe Stadium.
Game One Recap (TU 7, TBC 2)
Thomas (2-6, 0-3 TSC) had its bats in full effect, tallying 11 hits and six RBIs, including a homerun from Redshirt Senior Jake Bryan. Redshirt Junior Brad Toxen recorded two doubles and brought home an RBI in a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate.
In his first intercollegiate start, Freshman Pitcher Bobby Jacobs (1-0) was on fire, allowing no runs and no hits through five innings pitched. Redshirt Senior Logan Hollyman allowed four hits and two earned runs while recording two strikeouts in two innings at the mound.
The Night Hawks got on the board first in the bottom of the first inning, as Toxen doubled to left field, bringing in Freshman Jayson Zmejkoski home for a 1-0 lead. Redshirt Sophomore Raines Plant looked to make the score 2-0 on the same play rounding third, but a long throw from left field made it to home for the putout.
The Hunter Green & White would extend its lead to 3-0 in the second inning, as a 2RBI single by Zmejkoski brought in Redshirt Freshman Jacob Paterson and Redshirt Junior Rodwell Munoz.
After a quick three-and-out in the top of the fifth that included a double-play made by TU, the Night Hawks cashed in on three more runs off four hits, including a leadoff home run from Bryan.
After five innings, Thomas called on Hollyman to close the deal. The North Palm Beach, Fla. native did not give up a hit in the sixth, and sealed a win in the seventh, despite TBC's last ditch effort with back-to-back RBIs.
Game Two Recap (TU 6, TBC 3)
Securing a win in this contest was a bit more challenging for Thomas, as the game saw Trinity Baptist with the lead from the third to the sixth innings. Nevertheless, the Night Hawks recorded seven hits off six runs.
Redshirt Sophomore Owen Simonds (1-0) was accredited with the win as the Conyers, Ga. native entered the game with TU trailing the Blue & White.
Freshman Pitcher John Steward saw his first start of the 2021 season, allowing five hits and two earned runs while picking up two strikeouts facing 16 batters.
TU once again struck first, as a beautifully-executed bunt from Plant brought home a run for a 1-0 lead. Trinity Baptist would respond in the top of the fourth with two runs, but the lead was short-lived as Redshirt Sophomore Bradley Fleenor would belt one into the forest background for a solo-tying home run in the bottom of the fourth.
The Eagles would retake the lead (3-2) in the top of the fifth off a passed ball. After a walk on the next at-bat, Simonds entered the game to finish the fifth.
After TBC went three up, three down in the top of the sixth, Thomas would finish the game with four unanswered runs. With one out in the bottom of the sixth and runners in scoring position, Munoz sent a hit deep to center field for a sacrifice RBI that tied the game 3-3. Freshman Colby Tabb would bring in the game-winning RBI on the next at-bat with a grounder up past second base. Redshirt Junior Victor Terrero followed suit, giving the Night Hawks' lead cushion room with a 2RBI double out to left.
Redshirt Sophomore Andy Allison entered the seventh inning for the save, quickly striking out the first two batters followed by a putout from centerfield to clinch a 6-3 win.
TU by the Numbers
2: Home Runs on the Day
7: Total Runs Allowed on the Day
12: Total RBIs on the Day and consecutive Wins Against TBC dating back to 2017
13: Total Runs Scored on the Day
18: Total Hits on the Day
The Night Hawks resume its challenging schedule this weekend, facing #7 Faulkner in a three-game series. First pitch at Varnedoe Stadium is set for 4 p.m.
For up-to-date information on this game and other TU Athletics, visit www.TUNightHawks.com. Stay up-to-date with news, scores, photos, game summaries, and feature stories of your TU baseball team by following them via Twitter at @NightHawkBaseba.