Hawks Overcome 13-0 Deficit to Defeat Millsaps

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Huntingdon (17-8 overall, 5-3 CCS) defeated Millsaps College (15-15 overall, 6-6 conf.) for the third time this season, 22-15.

After going down by 13 runs in the first two innings and undergoing three pitchers, the Hawks fate looked doubtful heading into the bottom of the second inning. Huntingdon was able to score three runs in the bottom of the second inning to cut the lead to ten runs. Ten hits from Millsaps brought Bradley Ward to the mound for Huntingdon in the top of the third inning where he finally held the Majors scoreless.

Now it was time for the Hawks to act. Two singles from Matthew Robinson and Cade Morgan brought Hall Billings to the plate where he would bring in the first run for his team after a single to center field. John Hale stepped up with two outs for a two-run single to left field to give the Hawks a boost (13-6).

Millsaps brought two more runs to the board in the fourth and fifth innings before the Hawks winning pitcher, freshman Caleb Griffis took the mound for his first career win.

In the bottom of the sixth, Huntingdon looked to begin their comeback. With bases loaded from two walks and a single, the Millsaps pitcher walked Daniel Patton to bring in John Hale and another walk later brought in the Hawks eighth run of the game (15-8).

An eight run seventh inning gave the Hawks their first lead of the night. Daniel Phillips tripled to left field to bring in Hale and start the scoring frenzy. Jabez Sampson brought in D. Phillips on third to bring the game within five. With two on base, Daniel Patton homered to give the Hawks the boost they needed (15-13). Millsaps walked a batter to score Huntingdon's fourteenth run and D. Phillips was hit by a pitch that brought in the run to tie the game at 15. Giving the Hawks the lead at 16-15, a passed ball from Millsaps left them as the new underdog.

Griffis continued to hold off the Majors as his team got to work at the plate. Colin Whibbs stepped up to earn his first hit of the game with a solo homerun to keep the Hawks on top. Huntingdon added five more runs in the bottom of the eighth off seven hits. Hits coming from doubles by Morgan and D. Phillips, a triple from Hale, and a single from Sampson, which all scored a run.

Tucker Duke relieved Griffis on the mound to close out the ninth inning and finalize the comeback win for the Hawks as he allowed no hits or runs.

Hawks Top Performers:

#2 Daniel Phillips – 4-6, 3 Runs, 3 RBIs, 2B, 3B

#9 Cade Morgan – 3-5, 4 Runs, 2 RBIs, 2B

#7 Hall Billings – 5-6, 4 Runs, 2 RBIs, 2B

#17 John Hale – 3-3, 3 Runs, 5 RBIs, 3B

Pitching:

#24 Caleb Griffis (W, 1-0) – 3.0 IP, 2 Hits, BB, K

#41 Tucker Duke (Sv,4) – 1.0 IP, K

The Hawks return to action at Neal Posey Field on Friday for a doubleheader matchup against Mississippi University for Women beginning at 1:00 PM CT.