Pitching sets the tone in Hawks’ fifth straight win

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Huntingdon baseball team used a run in the third inning, a run in the eighth and nine innings of dominant pitching to get by Millsaps on Tuesday.

Huntingdon's pitchers combined for a four-hitter as the Hawks downed the Majors 2-1 at Posey Field. The win is the fifth straight for the Hawks (7-2).

"That was a good baseball game. Our pitching was strong and each game we're competing at the plate and showing signs of improvement on offense," Huntingdon head coach D. J. Conville said. "We've got room for improvement, but it's encouraging to see us finding ways to win. That's a good sign."

Huntingdon used a Trey Smith solo home run to tie the game in the third inning. A Keegan Lambeth single and an Evan Agnew single in the bottom of the eighth inning set up the go-ahead run.

With Agnew on first and Lambeth on third, a Millsaps fielding error allowed Lambeth to score.

In the ninth, Huntingdon pitchers Parker Adams and Tyler Spivey finished the job. Adams forced a ground out before Spivey got a strikeout and forced a pop out to end the game.

"I'm pretty excited about this team," Huntingdon senior pitcher John Rice said. "We're starting to hit the ball better and we're finding ways to win. We're not playing to our potential yet, but we're finding ways to win."

Rice started the game for the Hawks and went six innings to set the tone. After a shaky first inning, where he allowed two hits and a run, Rice frustrated the Majors (5-2) for the next five innings. He finished with five strikeouts, a walk, a hit batter, one earned run and gave up four hits. Relievers Will Davis, Adams and Spivey pitched the final three innings, allowing no hits and no walks, hitting two batters and striking out two.

"I think we have an excellent pitching staff," Rice said. "We've got some experience and we also have some new guys that are contributing a lot. I have confidence in all of the guys."

Adams (2-0) picked up the win and Spivey, a freshman, earned his second save of the season.

"Our pitchers are doing a good job and picking us up," Conville said. "We've got a good balance of experience and youth on the mound. Today, Rice, Davis, Adams and Spivey all threw well. That's a couple of older guys and a couple of younger guys making a difference and that is what it's going to take for us to be successful.

Huntingdon returns to Posey Field this weekend to play Wabash and Capital. The Hawks play Wabash at 4 p.m. on Saturday and noon on Sunday. Huntingdon will play Capital following the Wabash game on Sunday.