THOMASVILLE, Ga. - Royals Baseball came from behind on Friday night to take Game 1 of a 3 Game Series over Thomas University. After falling behind 9-to-5 in the 5th Inning, Warner was able to come storming back taking a 10-to-9 lead in the 6th Inning on their way to a 14-to-11 win in their first came on the road this season.
The Royals got the scoring going early on Friday, driving in 2 runs in the 1st Inning off an RBI single by
Gabriel Rodriguez and a Sacrifice Fly off the bat
Danny Garcia to take an early 2-0 lead. The Night Hawks would respond quickly, scoring a total of 3 runs in the 1st and 2nd Innings to take a 3-2 lead. Warner's aggressive base-running once again became a major issue for opposing defenses as Rodriguez would score off a throwing error by the Night Hawks catcher after Rodriguez successfully stole 3rd to even the score at 3 in the 3rd. The Royals would retake the lead in the 4th on a
Paddy Smith RBI single.
The two teams would continue to exchange blows as Thomas University would add 2 runs to their total in the 4th, before the Royals would tie the game back up at 5 on a Solo Home Run hit by Rodriguez, his 1st of the young season. The Night Hawks would then take their biggest lead of the night in the bottom of 5th scoring 4 runs to take a 9-to-5 lead. The Royals didn't let the big Inning get to them as they would put up 5 runs of their own in the Top of the 6th retaking the lead by a score of 10-9. Warner was able to create their rally off a string of good at-bats and their continud aggression between the bases. The Royals saw an infield RBI Single by Rodriguez to drive in
Ethan Pues for the 1st run of the Inning, before Smith scored on a Wild Pitch, followed by Olivera getting home off
Dawson Schumann reaching 1st on a fielding error. Rodriguez would then come into score off a throwing error by the Catcher as he tried ot pick off
Adriel Torres-Gonzalez at 1st and the Royals final run of the Inning was scored when the Night Hawks pitcher made a throwing error trying to pick off
Horiam Santiago, which allowed Torres-Gonzalez to score the 5th run of the Inning.
Thomas cut into the Warner lead in the 7th as they scored 2 more runs, but were never able ot retake the lead. The Royals would add an insurance runs in the 8th and 9th Inning, as
Ethan Pues drove in a run on a Sacrifice Fly and Torres-Gonzalez drove in the 14th run of the game on an RBI single in the 9th. Rodriguez and Smith ended Friday night with a game high 4 Hits each and Rodriguez also stole a game high 4 bases in the win.
Sebastian Phakousonh earned his 1st Collegiate win on Friday, pitching 2.0 Innings in relief while allowing only 1 Run on 1 Hit on 44 pitches.
Easton Nunez had another strong outing on the mound as he earned his 1st Save of his Collegiate career. Nunez threw 2.2 Innings allowing only 1 Run on 4 Hits while recording 3 Strikeouts to record the Save.
Warner will look to take the Series tomorrow as the two teams will face off again for a doubleheader tomorrow.
Warner Stat Leaders
Home Runs: Gabriel Rodriguez - 1
(1st of the season)
RBI's: Gabriel Rodriguez - 3
Stolen Bases: Gabriel Rodriguez - 4
Strikeouts Thrown: Easton Nunez - 3
Up Next:
The Royals will take on
Thomas University for a double-header on
Saturday, February 14th to complete the series. Game 1's first pitch is scheduled for 1
:00pm and Game 2 is scheduled to begin at 4
:00pm.
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