Huntingdon wins Game 1 of Top-20 matchup

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Huntingdon baseball team built an eight-run lead in the first two innings and knocked off Methodist University 16-2 in a Top-20 matchup on Friday night in the first game of a three-game conference series.

The game was shortened to seven innings by the USA South Athletic Conference's 12-run rule. Game 2 of the series is set for 2 p.m. on Saturday.

The 13^th-ranked Hawks (17-4, 9-3 USA South) took control with seven runs in the second inning and put the game away with five runs in the sixth inning. The 17^th-ranked Monarchs (17-4, 8-2 USA South), were held to two runs on four hits. Methodist was averaging a little better than eight runs and 10 hits per game entering Friday.

Carden Mellown (3-1) pitched a complete game to earn the win. In addition to allowing just two runs and four hits, Mellown struck out 10 and did not issue a walk in seven innings.

Six Hawks combined for 14 hits, 15 RBIs and 12 runs. Heath Haskins had five RBIs, two runs and two doubles on a 2-for-4 performance and Wes Powell was 3-for-5 with three RBIs and three runs. Chris Fisher was 3-for-5 with three runs and an RBI and Garrett Breland was 3-for-5 with three RBIs.

Will Cosby was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and three runs, including a two-run home run and Andrew Knight had an RBI and a run. Colton Clark scored two runs and Adams Bragg and Bradley Harris each scored one run.

After taking a 1-0 lead in the first inning on an RBI single by Breland, Huntingdon sent 13 batters to the plate in the second inning. Cosby scored on a wild pitch to open the inning's scoring before a two-run single by Powell made it 4-0. An RBI single by Fisher, an RBI double by Haskins and back-to-back RBI singles by Breland and Knight made it an 8-0 game after two innings.

Cosby's two-run home run made it 10-2 after four innings and a sacrifice fly by Haskins made it a nine-run game after five innings. In the sixth inning, Huntingdon sent 11 batters to the plate and scored five runs on an RBI single by Powell, a three-run double by Haskins and an RBI single by Breland.

Records: Huntingdon (17-4, 9-3 USA South); Methodist (17-4, 8-2 USA South)

Coming Up: Huntingdon and Methodist will play in Game 2 of their conference series on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Posey Field.