Huntingdon takes two from Averett to open conference play

MONTGOMERY, Ala.  – The Huntingdon baseball team earned two wins against Averett University on Saturday in the first two games of a three-game conference series.

The Hawks won the first game 5-0 and closed the day with a 5-4 victory. The two teams will wrap up the series on Sunday at noon at Posey Field.

Pitchers Carden Mellown and John Crawford combined for the shutout in Game 1 and pitchers Brooks Freeman and Tucker Duke limited the Cougars in Game 2.

Mellown (3-0) pitched eight scoreless innings, struck out nine, scattered five hits and did not issue a walk. After giving up two hits in the first inning, Mellown held Averett hitless in five of his final seven innings. Crawford closed the game, facing three batters, striking out one and forcing one fly out and one ground out in the ninth inning.

Freeman (2-0) earned the win in Game 2, striking out three, walking one, giving up eight hits and allowing three runs in six innings. Duke earned his first save of the season, striking out two and allowing four hits and one run in the final three innings.

In Game 1, the Hawks pulled ahead with five runs in the fifth inning. Tri Overby had two RBIs and a run and Colton Clark had an RBI and a run. Jake Elrod and Cullen Stafford each had one RBI and Wes Powell, Bradley Harris and Chris Fisher each scored one run.

In Game 2, Huntingdon trailed early but took a 3-2 lead in the fourth inning on an RBI single by Elrod and a two-run triple by Nick Swisher. A sacrifice fly by Overby made it 4-2 in the fifth inning and an RBI single by Andrew Knight closed the Hawks' scoring in the eighth inning.

Clark, Overby, Stafford, Elrod and Fisher each scored in the game.

Records: Huntingdon (5-1, 2-0 USA South); Averett (0-7, 0-2 USA South)

Coming Up: Huntingdon and Averett will play the final game of the three-game series on Sunday. First pitch is set for noon.