McKENZIE, Tenn. – Tennessee Southern opened its split series with Bethel on Friday by dropping a tight opener before bouncing back in a big way to earn a split in the opening twin bill at the Kahlden Complex.
In game one, the Firehawks fell 4–3 in a back-and-forth contest that remained within reach until the final inning. Bethel struck first in the bottom of the first, but Tennessee Southern answered in the third. Devin Thrain singled and later scored on an RBI double by Anthony Pastrana, knotting the game at 1–1.
After Bethel reclaimed the lead in the third and fourth innings, the Firehawks mounted another response in the fifth. Reagan Tomlin singled to start the frame before Thrain delivered his second hit of the game. Pastrana reached on an error, allowing both runners to score and trimming the deficit to one.
Tennessee Southern had chances late, putting runners aboard in the seventh, but was unable to push across the tying run. Thrain led the offense with a 2-for-4 day, scoring twice, while Pastrana drove in a run and added a double. On the mound, Drew Sharp was strong in relief, tossing 2.2 scoreless innings and keeping the Firehawks within striking distance.
The Firehawks responded emphatically in game two, using a seven-run first inning to seize control early and roll to a 10–3 victory.
The opening frame set the tone as Thrain walked and later scored the game's first run. Zac Wilson followed with an RBI single before Tomlin launched a three-run home run to right-center. The inning continued with aggressive baserunning and pressure, capped by an RBI single from Thrain to make it 7–0.
Tennessee Southern added to the lead in the second when Wilson tripled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Zach Chaney. In the third, Evan Nelson doubled and later crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly by Baron Cribbs.
Bethel scratched across a run in the fourth and fifth, but the Firehawks answered again in the seventh. Wilson was hit by a pitch and later scored on a sacrifice fly from Masato Mizumori to close out the scoring.
Tomlin paced the Firehawks offensively, going 3-for-4 with three RBIs and a home run. Wilson finished with two hits, including a triple, and scored three times. Thrain reached base three times, drove in a run, and scored once, while Nelson added two hits and an RBI.
On the mound, Jay Davis earned the win after striking out eight over four innings. Maxwell McHenry and Blake Medley combined to finish the game, allowing just one run over the final three frames.
The four-game set concludes tomorrow, February 14, as Tennessee Southern hosts Bethel to wrap up the weekend series.
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