Kohlman Plays Hero in 7-6 Walk-Off Win Over Thomas

WEST POINT, Ga. – The first conference win of the season didn't come easy for the Point University Skyhawks on Friday night, but a late rally at West Point Park powered them past the Thomas University Nighthawks. Trailing by two in the bottom of the ninth, Jonathan Kohlman launched a three-run homer to complete the comeback.

Down to their final three outs, Point worked a late opportunity against Thomas reliever Sawyer Smith. After a hit, a walk and a hit batter loaded the bases, Kohlman slugged a pitch over the left-field fence to complete the Skyhawks' comeback from an early 5-1 hole. The blast gave Kohlman four RBIs on the night.

Thomas controlled the game early behind production from the top of its order. In the first inning, Lucas Dufresne singled to center to drive in Seth Waltimyer and Elias Garcia for a 2-0 lead. The Night Hawks extended the margin in the fourth when Carson Thomas lined a two-run double to score Jackson Thomas and Gabe Tafelski, pushing the advantage to 4-0 against Skyhawks starting pitcher Dylan Davis. After Point got on the board in the fourth on a sacrifice fly by Damian Hernandez, Thomas answered with an RBI groundout from Aidan Reyes in the fifth to go up 5-1.

Eventually down 6-2, Point's rally built gradually over the final four innings. After Hernandez's sacrifice fly in the fourth, Arwin Burgos singled home Kohlman in the sixth to cut the margin to 5-2. The Skyhawks pulled within three on Kohlman's sacrifice fly in the seventh and then made it 6-4 in the eighth when Brady Bye grounded out to second to score Burgos. That set the stage for the ninth-inning drama, where Point turned its first and only home run of the game into the final swing of the night.

Point finished with seven runs on 10 hits, one home run and seven RBIs, while Thomas tallied six runs on 10 hits. Vittorio Iacobucci took the win on the mound after throwing the top of the ninth inning, striking out one and letting one runner on due to a walk. Prior to his appearance, Will Davey threw one frame, striking out the side.

The Skyhawks will try to clinch the weekend series tomorrow in a doubleheader against Thomas at West Point Park. Game times are 1:00 and 4:00pm.