Huntingdon opens conference series with win over Piedmont

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Huntingdon baseball team scored 10 runs in the first four innings and knocked off Piedmont College 14-4 on Friday night in the first game of a three-game series.

Game 2 of the USA South Athletic Conference series is set for Saturday at 3 p.m.

Huntingdon (6-14, 3-4 USA South) had a season-high 15 hits on Friday and took advantage of five Piedmont errors. On the mound, seniors Zach McGrady and Wes Nail combined for 10 strikeouts.

McGrady (2-5) picked up the win in seven innings and had a season-high seven strikeouts. He also walked one, scattered seven hits and allowed four runs. Nail pitched the final two innings, striking out three, walking two and allowing one hit.

Huntingdon built a 4-0 lead in the first two innings before Piedmont (12-9, 2-5 USA South) answered with two runs in the top of the third. Leading 4-2, Huntingdon pulled away with one run in the bottom of the third inning and five runs in the fourth inning. The Hawks added another run in the sixth inning and three runs in the seventh.

Five Hawks finished with at least two hits. Junior Taylor Fought was 3-for-4 with two runs and an RBI and senior Luke Ates finished with three RBIs and a run and was 2-for-5. Junior Garrett Headley was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run and sophomore Hunter Long was 2-for-4 with two runs. Freshman Wes Powell was 2-for-5 with two doubles, a run and an RBI.

Junior Corey Lowe scored three runs and had two stolen bases. Senior Cade Conville and junior Joseph Calvert each had an RBI and a run. Senior Michael Rodda and sophomore Will Cosby each scored one run.