THOMASVILLE — Thomas University baseball coach Mike Lee already owed one of his starting pitchers a steak dinner.

If not for an unearned run, it would have been two.

TU (19-13) swept a doubleheader from NAIA Region 14 foe Edward Waters on Tuesday at Varnedoe Stadium, 9-0 and 3-1.

TU pitchers Will Smeltzer (5-2) and Cody Whitlock (5-4) combined to allow just one run in the two games, which included a complete-game shutout by Smeltzer in game one. Such a performance warrants a steak dinner from the coach.

“It’s what you count on when those guys go out there,” Lee said.

Smeltzer surrendered just five hits and two walks, striking out four. He was aided by a barrage of Night Hawk runs beginning in the fourth inning. TU scored four in the inning, followed by four more in the fifth to blow open a close game.

Mike Griffin and Matthew Blanton each had three hits, with Griffin driving in one run and Blanton another. Blanton added a two-run home run in the second game that broke open a 1-1 tie in the fourth inning.

Blanton’s home run was his fourth of the season. He trails Griffin, who has a team-leading seven.

Despite Blanton’s two-run home run, TU managed just six hits in game two.

“I think we lost focus there,” Lee said. “We’re only playing one or two games a week for the next four weeks. I don’t think it’s too much to ask to keep your head in the game 4-5 hours a week.”

Fortunately, for the Night Hawks, Whitlock carried the team to its fifth straight victory. He allowed five hits, two walks, struck out four and surrendered one unearned run in the top of the fourth inning.

TU has won 14 of its last 17 games.

“We’re swing the bats,” Lee added.

During the Night Hawks’ current winning streak, TU has tallied 72 hits.