MONTGOMERY, Ala. --- Huntingdon College’s baseball team
(1-1) jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning,
including freshman Joseph Odom’s first collegiate homerun. Senior Ryan Harrison retired the side in the top
of the ninth inning for the save and a, 5-4, win over Methodist University
(1-1).
Senior Stephen Bishop started the Hawks’ offense off with
a one out single up the middle in the first inning. After a pop up to short
stop for the second out, Odom slugged a two out homer giving Huntingdon a 2-0
lead. The Hawks’ bats were not finished with sophomore Austin White reaching on
a single, followed by sophomore Keegan Lambeth’s RBI triple down the right
field line giving Huntingdon the 3-0 lead.
In the top of the second inning Methodist’s Chris Perry
roped a two-run homer off of junior Kevin Aaron cutting the Hawks’ lead to one
run, 3-2. The Monarchs tied the contest in the fourth inning after loading the
bases with no outs. Methodist scored the tying run off of a double play, which
drove in one run, 3-3. Aaron kept his composure by striking out the next batter,
ending the Monarchs hopes of a lead.
Huntingdon would score a run in the bottom of the fifth
and seventh inning to go up 5-3. In the fifth inning, the Monarchs loaded the
bases with Hawks and walked in a run but Huntingdon left three men on base
after taking a one run lead. Harrell doubled down the right field line in the
seventh inning, before a sacrifice fly by Austin White sent him home for the
Hawks’ fifth and final run of the afternoon.
Methodist scored one unearned run in the eighth inning,
after a strike out in the dirt and a throwing error by catcher Joseph Odom sent
a Monarch to second base with no outs. A ground out to the pitcher advanced Methodist’s
Brandon Thigpen to third base with only one out. Perry singled to right field
and drove in Methodist’s final run, 5-4. Harrison ended the Monarchs hopes of a
comeback by retiring the first three batters in the ninth inning ending the
game.
Huntingdon recorded 9 hits for the second straight game,
but were able to send five runners across the plate on Sunday’s victory. The
Monarchs posted 6 hits and committed no errors. Despite the Hawks three errors,
the Monarchs were only able to score one run off the mistakes. Huntingdon left
nine men on base, compared to Methodist’s 8.
Senior Drew Harrell led the Hawks with two hits, while seven
other Hawks added a hit in the win. Odom crushed his first collegiate homer
over the right field wall collecting two RBI’s in the game.
Junior transfer Kevin Aaron made his Hawks debut with
four innings of work, allowing three runs on five hits and two strike outs.
Freshman Joseph Fincher (1-0) picked up the win in four innings of relief,
striking out five and only giving up one run in his debut. Senior Ryan Harrison retired the side in the
top of the ninth for the save and Huntingdon’s first win on the season.
Chris Perry knocked in three of the four runs for the Monarchs,
including a two-run homer in the top of the second cutting the deficit to one
run. Michael Judge (0-1) pitched five innings for Methodist giving up four
earned runs and recorded four strike outs in the loss on Sunday.
The Hawks travel to Memphis, Tenn. on Friday, Feb. 11,
taking on Rhodes College beginning at 1 p.m.
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