Odom’s single lifts Hawks in the bottom of the ninth

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Huntingdon catcher Joseph Odom singled in two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to cap a 4-3 win over Mississippi College on Saturday.

Huntingdon was hitless through six innings, had just one run and had stranded nine runners after eight innings at Posey Field. But the Hawks (2-1) came alive for three runs in the final inning.

"This was a good comeback against a good team," Huntingdon baseball coach D.J. Conville said. "The biggest positives today were our pitching and our attitude. Our pitchers kept us in the game and we had enough fight in us at the end of the game to come back and win."

Odom's single was his first hit of the season. He finished the day with three RBIs.

"That's a great way to get your first hit of the season," Conville said. "He's a team captain and a leader, but he hadn't been able to get a hit in the first two games. He picked a good time to do it today. We hope that will breed confidence in him and everyone else on the team."

Trailing 3-1 in the ninth, Huntingdon loaded the bases with a Cameron Lewis walk, a Grant Brown single and a Caleb Astin walk. Grant Hayes, running for Lewis, scored on a wild pitch. With Brown on third, Astin on second and one out, Odom ended the game with a single to center field.

Conville said he hopes the Hawks will build off of their late-game performance and start taking advantage of their opportunities earlier in the game.

"That's something we're still working on," Conville said. "It was good to see us take advantage of our opportunities late in the game. We hope that will give us confidence that we can get the crucial hit and move our runners. We've struggled with that, but we're going to keep working and getting better."

Brown also scored Huntingdon's first run of the game on an Odom fielder's choice in the seventh inning. Brown finished 2-for-4.

Reliever Joseph Fincher (1-0) picked up the win. Grant Lowman got the start for Huntingdon, allowing four hits and two earned runs, walking two and striking out four in six innings. Tyler Womack took the loss for the Choctaws (1-2).

Brett Hightower was 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run for Mississippi College.

The Hawks return to action on Sunday at Posey Field. Huntingdon hosts Rhodes (2-0) in a doubleheader, beginning at noon.