Badgers Sweep Thomas University

Spring Hill College baseball swept both ends of a doubleheader from Thomas University (20-18) on Tuesday night by the scores 5-4 and 8-2 at Stan Galle Field.

In the first game the Badgers were hit with a haymaker blow in the first inning when the fourth Night Hawk batter of the game, designated hitter Tyler Braddock, crushed a three-run homer to left and catcher Mike Griffin followed two batters later with an RBI double to right-center making the score 4-0.

The Badgers would not quit, however, and began to whittle away at the lead with a sacrifice fly by centerfielder Justin Harrison in the third and an RBI single by third baseman Pat O'Malley in the sixth.  Meanwhile, starter Michael Bouché found his rhythm in the second inning and began shutting down the Thomas hitters.  Down 4-2 in the final frame, the Badgers tied the game with a one-out, run-scoring single to left by designated hitter Tyler Moberg followed by left fielder Sam Stewart beating out a fielder’s choice to first base on an attempted second-to-short-to-first double play that allowed pinch runner Christian Rossi to score from third.

In the bottom of the ninth with one out, pinch hitter Craig Lehman drove a single up the middle of the infield and into centerfield that scored Harrison from second to end the game, 5-4. 

Bouché pitched seven innings with nine hits, three earned runs, two walks and five strikeouts, but Mario Garcia (2-2) would take home the win in relief with two innings of work and three strikeouts.  Scott Mancauskas took the loss for the Night Hawks. 

In the nightcap, the Badgers continued to hit well and jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first with Moberg driving in the first two runs off a single into center.  SHC would add another run in the fourth to build a 4-2 lead and salted away the game with four runs in the fifth.  Harrison’s two-RBI single to right proved to be the biggest blow of the frame.

Starter Tony Mattera (1-0) picked up his first win of the year with six innings of work allowing two earned runs, six walks and two strikeouts.  Louis Pepper took the loss for Thomas.

Spring Hill College (16-26, 9-17 GCAC) next plays the University of Mobile at Stan Galle Field at 6 p.m. on Friday.