Huntingdon rallies to salvage split with Methodist

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Huntingdon scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to get by Methodist 4-3 in the second game of a doubleheader on Saturday. The Hawks dropped the first game 7-6.

Huntingdon (10-4, 10-4 USA South) and Methodist (9-6, 4-4 USA South) will wrap up the conference series at noon on Sunday.

In Game 2, Huntingdon trailed 3-2 entering the bottom of the ninth. Pinch hitter Gunnar Peters led off with a single and later advanced to third on an error. An Alec Raley single scored Peters to tie the game.

With the bases loaded and no outs, third baseman Jordan Freeman was hit by a pitch to score shortstop Landon Sessions and end the game.

Freeman finished the game 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Raley and Victor Taylor each had one RBI. Patrick Kucera and Anthony Spivey scored the Hawks' first two runs of the game.

Trey Worthington (1-0) picked up the win in relief. The senior entered the game with the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the ninth and forced a ground out to end the threat.

Zack Watson started the game and went seven innings, striking out six, allowing seven hits, walking one and allowing three runs.

In Game 1, Huntingdon carried a 5-2 lead into the ninth inning, but gave up five runs on two hits, two errors and four walks. Mason Throneberry (1-1) took the loss in relief of starter Jackson Cruce. Cruce went eight innings, scattering seven hits, striking out one, walking one and allowing four runs.

First baseman Will Pharis was 2-for-5 with three RBIs in Game 1 and Spivey was 2-for-4 with two runs. Raley finished with two hits, a RBI and a run and catcher Coleson Taylor had two hits and a run. Sessions drove in one run and Kucera and Dakota Beane each scored one run.