Hawks eliminate LaGrange in GSAC Tournament

MARYVILLE, Tenn. --- Huntingdon College's baseball team eliminated LaGrange College, 7-5, on Saturday afternoon in Maryville, Tennessee. The Hawks scored four runs in the 8th inning taking the lead for good over the Panthers in the GSAC elimination game.

With the two run win over LaGrange, Huntingdon is set to play Maryville College tonight at 8 p.m. Eastern for the final spot in the GSAC championship. The winner of tonight's game will take on number one seeded Piedmont College on Sunday, May 1, for the GSAC title.

The Panthers (21-21) took a three run lead, 3-0, in the bottom of the 2nd inning on four hits against Huntingdon.

Senior Drew Harrell's RBI-double down the left field line drove in the Hawks first run of the game, 3-1, cutting LaGrange's lead down to two runs. The Panthers extended their lead by three, 4-1, after a sacrifice fly to center field in the bottom of the 4th inning.

In the top of the 6th inning, Huntingdon's freshman Joseph Odom doubled down the left field line driving in Harrell and senior Stephen Bishop cutting LaGrange's lead down to one run, 4-3.

The Hawks finally took the lead for good in the top of the 8th inning after scoring four runs on five hits, 7-4. Bishop singled to third base before advancing to second on sophomore Evan Agnew's sacrifice bunt. Harrell's RBI-single up the middle drove in Bishop from second base for the game-tying run, 4-4. Senior Ryan Harrison singled up the middle moving Harrell over to second base with one out. A wild pitch sent Harrell to third base while Harrison moved over to second. Sophomore Caleb Astin tripled to right center with two outs driving in two runs for the Hawks' lead, 6-4. Sophomore Austin White knocked in Huntingdon's fourth run of the inning, 7-4, on an RBI-single to left field.

LaGrange cut the Hawks' margin down to two runs, 7-5, from an RBI-double to center field. Huntingdon limited the Panthers to only one hit in the bottom of the 9th inning eliminating LaGrange from the GSAC tournament on Saturday.

At the plate, Huntingdon posted 10 total hits in the victory with senior Stephen Bishop (3-for-4) registering a team-high three hits against LaGrange.

Senior Sam Griffin started for the Hawks pitching 3 1/3 innings allowing four runs on six hits with two strike outs. Junior Josh Knuth (3-1) picked up the win after giving up one run on five hits while striking out four Panthers. Harrison (5) recorded his fifth save of the season pitching 1 1/3 innings and only allowed one hits in the Hawks' win.

Huntingdon (22-16) takes on second-seeded Maryville tonight at 8 p.m. Eastern for the final spot in the GSAC championship game.

For more information on the GSAC baseball tournament, visit http://www.greatsouth.org/sports/2010/6/29/BSB_0629103417.aspx?path=baseball.

Hodge Patterson
Sports Information Director
Phone: (334) 833-4579
sid@huntingdon.edu