Michael Rodda was 2-for-5 with three RBIs in Friday night's 10-5 win over Maryville. (Photo by Wesley Lyle)
Michael Rodda was 2-for-5 with three RBIs in Friday night's 10-5 win over Maryville. (Photo by Wesley Lyle)

Huntingdon takes Game 1 of conference series with Maryville

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Huntingdon baseball team took control early and knocked off Maryville College 10-5 on Friday night in the first game of a three-game USA South Athletic Conference series.

The win was the fourth in the past six games for the Hawks (8-16, 5-5 USA South), who put together nine hits in the first five innings and built a 10-0 lead. Maryville (14-13, 7-6 USA South) scored five runs late in the game.

The two teams are scheduled to play Game 2 of the series at noon on Saturday at Posey Field.

Catcher Michael Rodda, first baseman Hunter Long, designated hitter Cody Shoemaker and left fielder Garrett Headley combined for eight of the Hawks' 11 hits in the game. Rodda was 2-for-5 with three RBIs and Long was 2-for-5 with a solo home run, a double, one RBI and two runs. Shoemaker was 2-for-3 with two runs and Headley was 2-for-4 with a run.

Taylor Fought had two RBIs and a run and Josh Hines and Joseph Calvert each had an RBI and a run. Will Cosby and Wes Powell each scored one run.

Huntingdon took control of the game with three runs in the second inning and five runs in the fourth inning.

Leading 1-0, the Hawks put together five hits in the second inning. An RBI double by Calvert and a two-run double by Rodda made it 4-0.

In the fourth inning, an RBI single by Fought brought in one run before Hines was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to make it 6-0. Long scored on a passed ball and Shoemaker scored on a wild pitch to make it an eight-run game. A ground out by Rodda brought in the final run of the fourth inning.

Huntingdon closed its scoring in the fifth inning with Long's solo home run.

Senior Zach McGrady (3-5) earned the win, striking out five, walking one, giving up 11 hits and allowing five runs in eight innings. Senior Wes Nail closed out the game in the ninth inning.