Box Score THOMASVILLE, Ga., - Freshman Alex Perez pitched eight shutout innings allowing just three hits and striking out eight as St. Thomas (30-17, 18-7 Sun Conference) defeated Thomas (26-17, 17-8), 6-1 in the first game of a critical three-game conference series.  With the win, the Bobcats lead the Nighthawks by one game for third place in The Sun Conference standings with two games to play in the regular season.
 
Perez, who was making just his fifth career start, did not allow a hit over the first 4.2 innings. The freshman out of Monsignor Pace HS improved to 2-0 and lowered his ERA to 2.25.
 
St. Thomas took the lead with one run in the second.  First baseman Dayron Gomez doubled to right-center to lead off the inning, the advanced to third on a ground out to first by catcher Oscar Aguirre.  Next up was designated hitter Elim Perritte who drove home Gomez with an RBI ground out to short.
 
The Bobcats busted the game open with a five-run inning via a two-RBI single by third baseman Brandon Canizares and three more runs that came on a throwing error by TU's shortstop.  With Perez out of the game, the Nighthawks scored a lone run in the bottom of the ninth to avoid the shutout.
 
The series concludes Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m. in Thomasville, Ga.