Pharis’ walk-off home run lifts Hawks in Game 2 with Averett

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Freshman Will Pharis hit a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Huntingdon baseball team a 5-4 win over Averett in the second game of a doubleheader on Saturday.

Pharis, who led off the bottom of the ninth, took the first pitch and launched it into Fairview Avenue beyond the right field fence. The home run was his third of the season.

The win helped Huntingdon (18-12, 13-7 USA South) salvage a split with the Cougars in the first two games of a three-game conference series. Averett took the first game 7-1.

Weather permitting, Huntingdon and Averett will play the final game of the three-game conference series on Sunday at Posey Field.

The late innings proved to be the difference in both games on Saturday. Huntingdon gave up six runs in the final three innings of Game 1 and tied Game 2 in the eighth inning.

Pharis finished with two RBIs in Game 2 and center fielder Gunnar Peters had a RBI and a run. Senior left fielder Grant Hayes was 3-for-4 with a run in the second game and first baseman Tyler Blackwell and short stop Landon Sessions each scored once in the game.

Neil Lawler (2-1) picked up the win in 2 1/3 innings of relief. Joseph Fincher (4-2) took the loss in Game 1 in 6 1/3 innings.

Blackwell was the only Hawk with multiple hits in Game 1, finishing 2-for-4. Trailing early in the first game, third baseman Jordan Freeman drove in catcher Clark Berry to make it a 1-1 game in the third inning.