Hawks Sweep Series Opening Double-Header With Asbury

MONTGOMERY, Ala.- After claiming their first CCS series victory on the road last week at Covenant, Huntingdon Baseball returned to Neal Posey Field for their second CCS series of the season, as they play host to the Asbury University Eagles.

The Hawks started off the series with two victories, sweeping today's double-headers by scores of 5-0 and 11-8 as they improved to 15-6 overall and 4-1 in conference play.

Game one

Huntingdon's first run of the afternoon came in the bottom of the first inning, as Sam Kelley singled down the middle of the field to score Brodie Holcomb. The next three innings were quiet offensively for both teams, with just 1 hit being recorded by the Eagles compared to 0 for the Hawks. The Huntingdon lead doubled in the fifth inning, as Cade Morgan's single brought Jabez Sampson across home plate to bring the score to 2-0. The Hawks final three runs came in the seventh inning, as Holcomb, Morgan, and Kelley each recorded base hits to score Brent Cadenhead among others as they lead swelled to 5-0.  The Hawks kept Asbury off the board in the final two innings to take victory in the first game of the series.

On the mound

Jacob McFarling pitched all 9 innings for Huntingdon, striking out 7 batters while allowing just 5 hits to dictate the pace of the game

Game two

The second game got off to a much different start, as a critical Huntingdon error made way for Asbury to score three runs in the opening frame. After Parker Szush retired the side with the Hawks trailing, Dalton Kuhn's RBI single kicked off a four-run inning, with Brodie Holcomb crossing home plate first. With the bases loaded shortly after, a walk sent Cade Morgan home as they Eagles lead shrunk to 3-2. Jabez Sampson gave Huntingdon the lead at the next at-bat, bringing home Byron McLain and Dalton Kuhn as the Hawks jumped in front 4-3.

After keeping the Eagles off the board in the second inning, Morgan and Sam Kelley each reached home on separate passed balls as Huntingdon's lead grew to 6-3. Holcomb followed with a triple to score Dylan Hyder, bringing the Hawks lead to 7-3 entering the fourth inning.

After a silent fourth inning for both teams, Asbury opened up a four-run inning in the top of the fifth to even things at 7 coming down the stretch. The Hawks pieced together two runs in the sixth, with Sam Kelley scoring before Mikael Bryant's RBI single scored McLain to take a slight 9-7 lead into the seventh inning. The Eagles put another run through on a sacrifice fly in the seventh, but a double from Jabez Sampson put Asbury away, bringing home Kuhn and Morgan to give Huntingdon an 11-8 win.

On the mound

Parker Szush moved to 2-0 on the year pitching the first five innings today, allowing 7 runs on 5 hits with two strikeouts. Evan Clark relieved Szush and pitched a little over two innings, but it was Brent Cadenhead who closed for the Hawks, picking up his fourth save on the season.

The Hawks close out their series with Asbury tomorrow, March 23rd, at 12:00 PM CT.