Hawks Drop Series Opener To Maryville

MONTGOMERY, Ala.- Returning to Neal Posey Field for their second consecutive Collegiate Conference of the South home series, Huntingdon Baseball welcomed the defending-CCS Champion Maryville Scots to Montgomery.

The Hawks put in some scores late, but Maryville gained a lead from the onset and never looked back, taking down Huntingdon 12-6.

How it happened

The Scots were hot at the plate in the opening frame, utilizing a two-run home run in their second at-bat to take the early advantage. The Hawks responded promptly, as Dalton Kuhn's single scored Brodie Holcomb to cut the Maryville lead in half to 2-1, but another home run for the Scots in the third inning brought their lead to 3-1. 

Over the course of the following three innings, Maryville maintained an offensive rhythm that the Hawks couldn't match, extending their lead to as much as 11-1 by the midway point in the 6th inning. Hits from Huntingdon's Byron McLain and Ty Pruitt scored Mikael Bryant and Sam Kelley in response, but the Hawks still faced an 11-3 deficit entering the 7th inning. The Scots poured in another run in the tip frame to bring their lead to 12-3, but the Hawks continued to battle. A passed ball in the 7th inning brought Holcomb home for the second time to bring the score to 12-4 before he scored Pruitt in the eighth with a sacrifice fly to cut the lead to 12-5. Brent Cadenhead made his way home on yet another passed ball to bring the score to 12-6 in the final inning, but Huntingdon couldn't muster any late fireworks, taking the 12-6 conference loss.

On the mound

Jacob McFarling drew the start for Huntingdon and fell to 4-3 on the season, striking out 6 Scots while allowing 11 runs on 13 hits. Landon Nelson also saw time on the mound before Hoot Rathbun closed the final three innings for the Hawks.

The Hawks look to bounce back tomorrow, March 29th, in a double-header with the Scots. First pitch is set for 1:00 PM CT.