Hawks sweep Covenant in conference doubleheader

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, Ga. – The Huntingdon baseball team picked up two key USA South wins with a 5-4 and 12-5 sweep of Covenant on Saturday.

The first game of the series was postponed due to weather on Friday. The two teams will attempt to make the game up at a later date.

Huntingdon (23-15, 21-8 USA South) is currently second in the USA South standings. Methodist leads the standings with a 21-6 conference record. The Monarchs have one conference series remaining with LaGrange.

On Saturday, Huntingdon rallied with three runs in the seventh inning to win Game 1. In Game 2, the Hawks scored five runs in the first three innings to take control.

Designated hitter Anthony Spivey, left fielder Alec Raley and third baseman Jordan Freeman combined for 14 hits, two home runs, 12 RBIs and nine runs in the doubleheader. Spivey was 5-for-8 with five RBIs and two runs, Raley was 5-for-11 with three RBIs and four runs and Freeman was 4-for-9 with four RBIs and three runs.

Spivey and Freeman both hit three-run homers in Game 2. It was Spivey's seventh home run of the season and Freeman's ninth home run this season. Freeman leads the USA South in home runs and is third with 40 RBIs. Spivey is third in the conference in home runs and second with 44 RBIs.

Trailing 4-2 in Game 1, Huntingdon took the lead in the top of the seventh inning. RBI singles by Raley and Spivey tied the game. Raley scored on a passed ball to give the Hawks the lead for good.

With the lead, senior reliever Trey Worthington held Covenant (14-20, 10-13 USA South) to one hit in the final three innings. Worthington (3-1) picked up the win, striking out one and allowing one hit in four innings of relief. Jackson Cruce started the game and went five innings.

Raley had two hits, two runs and a RBI in the game and Freeman had two hits and a RBI. Will Pharis had a RBI and a run, Spivey had one RBI and Patrick Kucera and Dakota Beane each scored one run.

In Game 2, Huntingdon took a 4-0 lead in the third inning on Spivey's three-run home run. Freeman's three-run home run made it 8-2 in the fifth.

Spivey was 4-for-4 with four RBIs and two runs in Game 2 and Freeman was 2-for-5 with three RBIs and three runs. Raley was 3-for-6 with two RBIs and two runs and Mason Throneberry was 3-for-5 with a RBI and a run. Kucera was 2-for-4 with two runs and two stolen bases. Gunnar Peters drove in one run and Beane and Pharis each scored one run.

Freshman Jared Gonzalez (7-2) earned the win in seven innings. Gonzalez is one of three pitchers in the USA South with a conference-best seven wins this season. Zack Watson and Throneberry pitched the final two innings.