Odom’s two home runs lift 20th-ranked Hawks over Muskingum

NEW CONCORD, Ohio – In a game where hits were at a premium, the Huntingdon Hawks made the most of their opportunities in a 7-4 win over Muskingum on Friday.

Huntingdon (15-5), which entered the national rankings this week at No. 20 in the American Baseball Coaches Association poll, finished the game with six hits and held Muskingum to three hits.

Huntingdon catcher Joseph Odom accounted for two of the Hawks' first three hits, blasting a two-run home run in the third inning and another two-run homer in the seventh inning. Odom, who entered the week tied for first in Division III with eight home runs and was second with 30 RBIs, now has 10 home runs and 34 RBIs in 20 games.

Tyler Blackwell provided the Hawks with their final hit, a two-run single, in the ninth inning. Evan Agnew drove in Huntingdon's first run with a sacrifice fly in the second inning.

Grant Brown finished with two hits for the Hawks and Trey Smith added one hit. In addition to Odom's two runs, Caleb Astin scored three runs and Brown and Smith each scored once.

Cory Belyeu (4-0) picked up the win in relief of starter Grant Lowman. Lowman threw a three-hitter and allowed two earned runs in five innings before Belyeu came in for the sixth and seventh innings. Neil Lawler pitched the final two innings to earn his second save of the season. Belyeu and Lawler did not allow a Muskingum batter to reach base.

The Hawks return to action on Saturday with a doubleheader at two-time defending national champion Marietta. Marietta (8-3) is ranked fourth by D3baseball.com and sixth by the American Baseball Coaches Association.

Game 1 is set for noon.

Marietta will be providing Live Stats, audio and video for both games.

Live stats: http://sidearmstats.com/marietta/baseball/scoreboard.aspx

Live audio: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/wmoa-live

Live video: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/marietta-college-athletics