Jacob Burke's three-run home run in Game 1 and Gavin Williams's home runs in each game powered TCJ Eagles Baseball to a sweep of NAIA Thomas University on Tuesday. The Eagles scored double-digit runs in each game, and the pitching held a powerful Nighthawks offesne in check for all but 1 inning as Trinity took both games.  

Game 1: Eagles 10, Thomas 4

Burke's home run in the bottom of the 3rd was the big blow in the middle of a 5-run rally. With a run already in and two runners aboard, Burke lauched a drive to right center that cleared the fence for a three-run blast, his first of the season. Gadriel Burgos (single) and Angel Perez (courtesy runner for Larson Lott, single) both scored on the bomb.

[Jacob Burke: 5 for 8, HR, 2B, 2 R, 7 RBI in Tuesday's double-header]

The Eagles led 6-0 at that point. 

The rally started with Lott's base hit that drove in Williams, who led off with a single. After the home run, Logan McGann's sacrifice fly brought home Richaun Amaro (single) to make the score 7-0. 

Morgan Muhlbauer drove in a pair with a double in the 2nd to give Trinity a 2-0 lead. In the 5th, Williams hit a lead-off home run just over the right-center field wall. Burke then capped his 5-RBI performance with a two-run single to plate Burgos (single) and Dominic Gattinella (double).  

Thomas scored 2 in the top of the 3rd and 2 more in the 5th. 

Drew Billings earned the win in relief by pitching 2 innings. He entered in the 5th with the bases loaded, no one out, and a run already in. Billings got a strikeout, a walk, a strikeout, and a ground ball to end the inning without further damage. He then pitched a scoreless 6th. Amaro finished with a scoreless 7th, getting three consecutive outs after the first two men reached. Trey Rosado started and pitched three solid innings. 

Game 2: Eagles 11, Thomas 7

After McGann hustled to beat out an infield single to start the game for the Eagles, Williams lauched a missle over the right-field fence for a two-run shot. It was his second of the day and the season.

[Gavin Williams: 5 for 7, 2 BB, 2 HR, 2B, 5 R, 3 RBI vs. Thomas on Tuesday]

TCJ then scored 3 more on Burke's two-run double and Markeinis Brown's RBI single. Trinity led 5-0 after the first inning. 

Lott (single) and Gattinella (double) drove in runs in the 2nd, and Trinity led 7-0 before Thomas began to chip away with 1 in the 4th and 2 in the 5th. Trinity answered with 4 in the 5th on a two-run single from Burgos and a RBI ground ball from Gatinella, on which on overthrow allowed a second run to score and make it 11-4. 

Thomas. though, fought back for 4 runs -- all coming after the first two men were out -- in the 6th. Lucas Dufresne cleared the bases with a three-run double, and Jackson Thomas drove in Dufresne with a base hit. Jackson Taylor then entered and got the final out from the first man he faced on a popup. Taylor then pitched a scoreless 7th to earn the save. 

The game ended on an unusual play. Tyson LaChapelle chased down a foul fly ball and caught the runner, who was stealing on the pitch, trying to get back. Amaro covered first to complete the game-ending double play. 

Drayton Black earned the win with a breif but scoreless outing. He pitch 2/3 of an inning; he allowed 1 hit and struck out 1. Starter Chance Helvey allowed only 1 hit and 0 runs in 3 innings; he walked 2 and fanned 1. 

Offense

The Eagles totaled 21 runs, 26 hits, and 12 walks at the plate in the two games. 

Next Up

The Eagles play their next 8 games on the road, starting and ending with South Region competition. First, Trinity travels to Baptist University of Florida for three on March 27 (single) and 28 (double-header). A twin bill at NAIA Florida Memorial University follows on March 31. Trinity then visits Toccoa Falls College for a three-game series on April 10 (single) and 11 (double-header).