Huntingdon baseball edges Rhodes

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Huntingdon baseball team built a three-run lead early and held off Rhodes College for a 3-2 win on Tuesday afternoon.

Huntingdon (19-13) scored three runs in the third inning and held off a late push by the Lynx (16-17). Rhodes loaded the bases twice in the final four innings, but the Hawks were able to get out of both jams without giving up the lead.

With the Hawks leading 3-1 in the sixth inning, Rhodes loaded the bases with no outs. Huntingdon used a strikeout by starter Matt Gatewood, a play at the plate and a ground out to second base to end the inning.

In the ninth inning, with Huntingdon leading 3-1, Rhodes loaded the bases with two outs. The Lynx scored one run before a ground out to third baseman Josh Hines ended the game.

Gatewood (2-0) picked up the win in six innings, striking out six, walking three, hitting one batter, scattering three hits and allowing one run. Jared Gonzalez struck out two, walked one and gave up two hits in two innings of relief before Mason Throneberry closed out the ninth inning and earned his fourth save of the season.

Huntingdon's three runs came on a pair of singles by Josh Jackson and Jordan Criswell. Jackson's two-run single scored Throneberry and Landon Sessions to make it 2-0. Jackson then scored on an RBI single by Criswell to make it 3-0 in the third inning.

Jackson, Patrick Kucera, Anthony Spivey and Sessions each had two hits for the Hawks.

Huntingdon returns to action at Methodist on Friday at 3 p.m. in Game 1 of a three-game series.