Hawks Close Conference Series With Double-Header Loss To Maryville

MONTGOMERY, Ala.- After falling 12-6 in their first matchup with the Scots yesterday, Huntingdon Baseball returned to Neal Posey Field to battle Maryville, this time in a double-header to determine the series. The Hawks ultimately were defeated in both games, dropping the first 14-10 and the second 6-5, bringing their overall record to 16-9 on the season with a 5-4 conference record.

Game One

Maryville struck first in the opening frame to gather a slight advantage, but it would be the Hawks taking a lead into the second inning, as Cade Morgan's triple scored Brodie Holcomb before he crossed home plate himself on a wild pitch to hand Huntingdon a 2-1 lead. Their lead proved to be short-lived however, as the Scots scored in the top frame of the second inning to even things at 2. The Hawks continued to show poise at the plate however, with hits from Brent Cadenhead and Blayne McDaniel scoring runs for Ty Pruitt and Jabez Sampson as the Huntingdon lead grew to 4-2 entering the third inning.

Maryville followed a scoreless third inning for both teams with a run in the fourth to cut the Hawks lead to 4-3, but Huntingdon managed to maintain their two-run lead following an RBI single from Brodie Holcomb. The Scots found their rhythm in the fifth, piecing together three runs to capture a 7-5 lead that they wouldn't relinquish through the remainder of the game. Back-to-back Maryville home runs in the sixth inning saw the Scots lead grow to 11-5 before the seventh inning. Runs from Pruitt and Holcomb in the sixth and seventh innings saw the deficit be reduced to 11-7, but another two-run Maryville homer brought the score to 13-7. Pruitt crossed home plate again on a walk to cut the lead to 13-8, but a sacrifice fly in favor of the Scots returned the lead to six, 14-8 in the final frame. Dalton Kuhn and Byron McLain each crossed home plate as Huntingdon attempted to mount a comeback, but ultimately the Hawks would come up short, 14-10.

In the circle

Parker Szush started for Huntingdon on the mound, throwing 5 strikeouts while allowing 7 runs on as many hits through 4 innings of action. Evan Clark relieved Szush and picked up his second loss on the season, allowing 4 runs on as many hits through 1.1 innings. Will Argo and Caleb Griffis each also saw time on the mound to close the game.

Game Two

Similar to the beginning of the first game, Maryville saw two runs in the opening frame to stake an early advantage, but this time the Hawks couldn't match as they entered the second inning with a two run deficit. The Scots sent a single run shot over the fence in the third inning to push their lead to 3-0 before the Hawks responded in the bottom frame. Huntingdon's first run of the game came by way of an error, as Jabez Sampson crossed home plate to cut the deficit to 3-1. Sam Kelley followed up with a double, scoring both Morgan and Brodie Holcomb as the Hawks evened things at 3 entering the fourth inning.

The fourth, fifth, and sixth innings saw little to no offensive productivity from either team, but Maryville broke the ice in the top frame of the seventh inning, scoring three runs to hold a 6-3 lead late. Sampson and Blayne McDaniel scored in the following frame to bring Huntingdon within one, 6-5, but the Hawks couldn't break through, taking the loss 6-5.

In the circle

JB Landrum drew the start for the Hawks and pitched six innings, allowing 3 runs on 7 hits while striking out 7 Scots as he fell to 4-2 on the season. Jable Ramey, Landon Nelson, and Brent Cadenhead each saw action on the mound as well for Huntingdon in the nine-inning loss.

The Hawks return to action on April 2nd, traveling to face the Stormy Petrels of Oglethorpe University. Gametime is set for 4:00 PM CT.