Baseball Claims Undefeated Series Victory Over MUW

MONTGOMERY, Ala.- After defeating the Owls 8-0 on Friday night to open the series, Huntingdon baseball completed the sweep against MUW today, claiming the first game 12-2 through 7 innings in the first game before sneaking away with a 9-8 ten-inning victory in the second.

Game One

MUW earned their first run of the series in the top frame of the first inning, pushing a runner through on a RBI single. Their 1 run lead proved to be short-lived however, with Cade Morgan finding his way home off the bat of Brodie Holcomb in the bottom frame to even things up. The Hawks claimed their first lead of the game just two at-bats later, with an error bringing home Sam Kelley to put Huntingdon ahead 2-1. A walk with the bases loaded let Byron McLain cross the plate and gave the Hawks a 3-1 advantage entering the second inning.

A three-up and three-down frame for the Owls put Huntingdon in prime position to extend their lead early, and the Hawks took advantage of the opportunity. Sam Kelley ripped a shot down the middle of the field, bringing home Cade Morgan to grow the lead to 4-1. Ty Pruitt followed up with a single that sent home both Kelley and Brodie Holcomb to push the Hawks lead to 6-1 as the third inning got underway. 

Kelley kept the hot hand in the third inning, following a Blayne McDaniel run with a 2-shot homer to push the Huntingdon advantage to 9-1. Another RBI single for Pruitt, this time bringing home both Morgan and Jay Davidson, gave the Hawks a 11-1 lead heading into the fourth. Kelley's second double of the game and 4th RBI in the 5th inning brought the lead to 12-1 with three innings to play. The Owls crossed home plate in the 7th, bringing the score to 12-2 for Huntingdon's opening win of the day.

JB Landrum drew the start on the mound, striking out 9 batters while allowing just 3 hits and 1 run. Killean Blackmon closed the final two innings with 1 earned run and 2 hits.

Game Two

The second game of the day got off to a much different start, with MUW putting up three runs in the top frame to go ahead early. Byron McLain's RBI single in the bottom frame allowing Jay Davidson to score cut into the lead, but the Hawks still trailed 3-1 heading into the second inning. Similar to the first game however, three consecutive Owl outs put Huntingdon back into position to score, and the Hawks capitalized, with Davidson's sacrifice fly bringing in Dalton Kuhn to cut the MUW lead to 3-2. Brent Cadenhead's sacrifice fly in the third inning evened things at 3.

After a scoreless fourth inning, MUW broke the ice in the top frame of the 5th inning, putting two runs on the board to establish a 5-3 lead. Byron McLain responded in the following frame with an RBI double bringing in Cade Morgan to cut the deficit to 5-4. A single shot home run for MUW in the 7th inning extended their lead to 6-4, but the Hawks continued to battle, going on a three run rally in the bottom frame to reclaim the lead 7-6. Brent Cadenhead brought home Brodie Holcomb and Jay Davidson with a single through the right side before the Owls hit Jabez Sampson with a pitch and the bases loaded. Another Owl run in the 8th inning tied things at 7, but Brent Honaker's RBI single put the Hawks back ahead going into the 9th. The Owls scored in the top frame to tie things at 8, and the Hawks couldn't match, forcing extra innings.

After three consecutive strikeouts for MUW, Ty Pruitt brought home Sam Kelley with 1 out on the board to give the Hawks the 9-8 victory.

Parker Szush started on the mound in the second game, allowing 5 runs on 7 hits through 4.2 innings. Jable Ramey relieved Szush, allowing 2 runs on 4 hits in 3 innings before Brent Cadenhead closed for the Hawks with 3 strikeouts in 2 innings.

The Hawks look to keep rolling as they enter a 12 game home stretch. They return to action on Wednesday February 19th, hosting the Millsaps Majors. First pitch is set for 3:00 PM CT.