Huntingdon edges LaGrange in non-conference matchup

MONTGOMERY, Ala.  – The Huntingdon baseball team took advantage of its opportunities and picked up a 5-4 win over LaGrange on Wednesday night.

The midweek matchup does not count as conference game. The two teams will play a three-game conference series in April.

Huntingdon took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the first and the two teams carried a 4-4 tie into the fourth inning. In the bottom of the fourth, Wes Powell reached on an error, later stole second base and scored the go-ahead run on a single by Andrew Knight.

From there, the Hawks made the lead count. After giving up five hits, a walk and striking out three in the first four innings, the Hawks allowed one hit, four walks and struck out eight in the final five innings.

Huntingdon used seven pitchers in the game. Tucker Duke (2-1) earned the win in one inning of relief and combined with Ethan Hess, John Crawford, Gavin Gomez, Kyle Phillips, Carden Mellown and Patrick Sawyer for 11 strikeouts. Gomez, Phillips, Mellown and Sawyer pitched the final five innings.

Sawyer earned his first save of the season. Sawyer faced three batters in the ninth inning, forcing a pop up and striking out the final two.   

Powell finished with two runs and Knight had one RBI and one run. Colin Whibbs was the only Hawk with multiple hits, finishing 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run. Colton Clark scored one run and Cullen Stafford had one RBI.

Records: Huntingdon (5-5); LaGrange (5-3)         

Coming Up: Huntingdon hosts Emory in a doubleheader on Saturday. Game 1 is set for 1 p.m.